PINELLAS PARK, Fla. – October 1, 2026 – Brundage Group, a leading provider of physician-led, tech-enabled clinical compliance and revenue integrity solutions for U.S. hospitals and health systems, today announced that Hassan Rao, MD, Associate Chief Medical Officer and Vice President of Diagnosis-Related Group (DRG) Services, has been named to Becker’s 2026 list of “Rising Stars: 188 Healthcare Leaders Under 40.”
Dr. Rao serves as Associate Chief Medical Officer and Vice President of DRG Services at Brundage Group, all while continuing to practice as a board-certified internal medicine hospitalist.
At Brundage Group, Dr. Rao developed and launched a physician-led pre-bill DRG review service line that combines proprietary algorithms, Physician Advisor expertise, and coding collaboration. Clients using the service line have realized an average of more than $1 million in additional DRG reimbursement within 12 months.
Beyond his role at Brundage Group, Dr. Rao oversees onboarding, training, auditing, and mentoring for Physician Advisors and clinical coding teams nationwide and serves as an expert witness in legal disputes involving medical necessity, coding, and payment validation.
He is also active in shaping the field more broadly. Dr. Rao has presented at national conferences with the Association of Clinical Documentation Integrity Specialists (ACDIS) and the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA), and in 2026 partnered with Pinson & Tang as the primary clinical contributor to its publications and webinars. Through the American College of Physician Advisors (ACPA), where he serves on the certification council and clinical documentation integrity committee, he is helping develop the field’s first clinical documentation integrity certification for Physician Advisors.
Hassan’s work has redefined what a physician-led DRG program can deliver for our clients. His recognition from Becker’s reflects the clinical rigor and leadership he brings, not just to Brundage Group, but to the field of clinical documentation integrity nationally.
Becker’s “Rising Stars: 188 Healthcare Leaders Under 40” recognizes healthcare leaders under the age of 40 who are shaping the future of hospital and health system leadership.
About Brundage Group
Brundage Group is a leading provider of physician-led, tech-enabled clinical and revenue integrity solutions for U.S. hospitals and health systems. Its team of top-tier physician advisors, proprietary analytics and educational programs empower health care providers to ensure inpatient care is thoroughly documented, clinically justified and compliant with regulatory standards. Founded in 2007, Brundage Group is dedicated to enhancing clinical accuracy, regulatory compliance and financial health for hospitals and health systems nationwide, so they can focus on providing exceptional care to their patients and communities. For more information, visit brundagegroup.com.
Media Contact:
Lacey Thompson
Brundage Group
[email protected]
