Physician Advisor Trends Defining 2026 

As hospitals navigate 2026, the role of the Physician Advisor has become more essential than ever. What once centered on utilization review has evolved into a strategic capability that directly influences clinical decision-making, operational efficiency, and revenue integrity. Three trends are shaping how organizations are leveraging Physician Advisors this year. 

1. Strategic Partnership Is Now the Standard 

In 2026, hospitals are relying on Physician Advisors to drive clarity across Utilization Management (UM), documentation integrity, denials management, and payer relationships. Brundage Group’s Physician Advisors leverage deep clinical expertise and proven operational insight to navigate the complex criteria, support documentation accuracy, and ensure medical necessity is clearly and consistently documented, advancing both compliant practice and revenue integrity across the organization. 

2. Workforce Pressures Are Elevating Physician Advisor Impact 

Staffing shortages and increasing administrative workload continue to place significant demands on hospital operations and clinical teams. Physician Advisors strengthen appropriate patient status decisions, enabling clinicians to prioritize patient care while clarifying when additional documentation is needed to accurately support inpatient medical necessity and safeguard hospital revenue. Brundage Group’s collaborative model integrates physician advisor support into existing organizational UM workflows; strengthens clinical and operational relationships; and serves as an extension of your organization. 

3. Technology Requires Expert Oversight 

Hospitals continue to deploy automation and real-time decision support to manage growing denial pressure. However, technology alone cannot keep pace with shifting payer rules. In 2026, Physician Advisors play a critical revenue cycle oversight role, ensuring UM workflows remain clinically credible, compliant, and aligned to system goals. Brundage Group brings together expert reviewers with the right level of automation to maximize efficiency and deliver measurable outcomes. 

Planning for the Future

As the demands on utilization management, documentation integrity, and denial prevention continue to intensify in 2026, external Physician Advisor support is becoming indispensable. Many organizations lack internal capacity, specialized expertise, or real-time coverage needed to navigate continuously evolving payer requirements and growing denial volumes. Partnering with an external Physician Advisor team provides immediate access to national experience, consistent availability, and proven workflows that elevate performance across the UM function. Brundage Group delivers this support with a model designed to integrate seamlessly with revenue cycle workflows, protect revenue, and ensure compliance in a landscape that is only growing more complex.