We believe there is a better way of doing physician contract reviews.
We believe there is a better way of doing physician contract reviews.
Contract Diagnostics Blog
Should You Use AI to Review Your Physician Contract?
AI can translate dense language, flag obvious red flags, and help you organize your questions before a formal review. That's genuinely useful. But a physician's employment contract is not a standard document. It sits at the intersection of compensation benchmarking,...
Best Cities for Physician Salary in 2025 (Cost-of-Living Adjusted)
The best cost-of-living-adjusted metro areas in the Doximity 2025 report are Rochester, St. Louis, Oklahoma City, Omaha, and Kansas City. This matters because local costs can offset nominal salary differences, which changes what an offer is actually worth when you...
Unlocking Your Earning Potential: A Contract Diagnostics Guide to Physician Salary Growth
Your first attending salary is a major milestone, but it's just the starting line. What happens next? How does your compensation evolve over your career? At Contract Diagnostics, we've analyzed over 18,000 physician contracts in our 14+ years of experience, and we can...
2026 Medicare Fee Schedule: The Hidden Pay Cuts in the ‘Increase
The world of physician compensation is never static, but the upcoming changes in the 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) represent a significant shift that every physician, PA, and CRNA needs to understand. While headlines may tout a “positive” payment update,...
Your Biggest Financial Blind Spot: A Physician’s Guide to Medical Malpractice Insurance
You wouldn’t buy a home without understanding the insurance policy. You wouldn’t drive a car off the lot without knowing your liability coverage. As consumers, we have a basic grasp of these necessities. Yet, as a Physician, when it comes to the single most important...
How Self-Employed and 1099 CRNAs Are Buying Homes with Flexible Loans
If you're a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) working as a 1099 contractor, you already know the freedom and earning potential this career path provides. However, your unique employment situation can become a roadblock when buying a home. The key is...
Physician Contract Review: Is a Professional Service Worth the Cost? (2025 Analysis)
INTRODUCTION A recent Contract Diagnostics client thought her $380,000 hospitalist offer was competitive—until our analysis revealed $25,000 in missed compensation opportunities. The physician had focused entirely on the base salary. She missed critical details about...
Healthcare Policy Alert: Big Beautiful Bill’s Impact on Physician Compensation
The Big Beautiful Bill (H.R. 1), enacted on July 4, 2025, includes ~$900 billion in healthcare spending cuts over 10 years to fund infrastructure and social programs. These Medicaid reimbursement reductions will directly impact physician compensation, hospital...
The Doximity 2025 Physician Compensation Report: What Every Doctor Needs to Know About Their Worth
Key Takeaways from the 2025 Doximity Report The 2025 Doximity Physician Compensation Report reveals significant trends affecting every physician's earning potential and career decisions. Key Findings: Physician compensation increased only 3.7% in 2024 - below...
What You Need to Know About Non-Disparagement Clauses
Non-disparagement clauses have become increasingly common in employment agreements, severance packages, and settlement documents across various industries. These contractual provisions restrict what employees can say about their former employers, creating significant...
5 Tax Mistakes Every 1099 Physician Must Avoid (Don’t Miss #3)
Dr. Sarah Chen finished her emergency medicine residency last June with a decision many new attendings face across all specialties: accept a traditional W-2 hospital position or dive into the world of independent contracting. Whether it's emergency medicine,...
Breaking: Major Changes to Physician Non-Compete Laws Across Five States – What Every Doctor Needs to Know
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Contract Diagnostics | Physician Contract Reviews (@contractdiagnostics) The landscape of physician employment contracts is undergoing a dramatic shift. In just the past few months, five states have enacted sweeping new...
Smart Disability Insurance Moves for Graduating Residents and Fellows
You’re almost done with training – these five moves can help you protect your income with coverage that is flexible, easier to secure and competitively priced. As you wrap up the academic year and step into your first attending role, one of the most critical financial...
Best Practices in Physician Compensation and the Impact on Medical Professionals
The future of physician compensation is in centralization, automation and analysis. Currently, the world of physician compensation is fragmented. Healthcare organizations have a difficult time collecting aggregate data because physician payments are handled through...
How Much Does Malpractice Insurance Cost?
Healthcare professionals face significant financial exposure from potential malpractice claims, making medical malpractice insurance a critical investment. Understanding malpractice insurance costs helps you budget appropriately and select the right coverage for your...
Are You Getting Paid What You’re Worth? Why Compensation Benchmarks Cannot Tell the Whole Story
For physicians, navigating the complexities of compensation in today’s healthcare landscape can feel like deciphering an ancient code. With most doctors now employed by hospitals, large health systems, or private equity firms, the days of entrepreneurial autonomy have...
Why I Chose to Work Abroad as a Physician
Burnout is a reality for many of us in medicine. For years, I felt it creeping into my career, chipping away at my passion for a profession I once loved. I realized that if I didn’t make a change, I would lose more than my joy in medicine—I’d lose my sense of purpose....
Burnout to Breakthrough: Work as a U.S. Physician While Living in Europe!
Have you ever thought about moving to Europe? Life has bogged you down a little. Your job may get boring. Are you feeling the drag of burnout? Try something different, have a new experience, and mix things up. But the biggest problem? You’re a physician. Fortunately,...
FTC’s Non-Compete Ban: 10 Key Takeaways for Physician Contracts
The FTC's proposed non-compete ban, set to take effect on September 4, 2024, is sending ripples through the healthcare industry. As you read the key takeaways below, consider the potential positive impact on your career, your colleagues, and even your facility's...
2024 MGMA DataDive: What are the trends in provider compensation?
The long-awaited 2024 MGMA DataDive, a federally recognized provider data set known for its precision and timeliness, has finally been unveiled. This data set provides unparalleled insights into physician and advanced practice provider compensation and is immensely...
What Is My Fair Market Value as a Physician?
Did you know that according to Becker’s Hospital Review over three-quarters of physicians are now employed by hospitals, corporations, or private equity groups? This shift has fundamentally transformed the landscape of physician employment. No longer entrepreneurs and...
Insights from the MGMA 2024 Dataset by Jon Appino
Welcome to an overview of the MGMA 2024 data set, presented by Jon Appino, founder of Contract Diagnostics. While this post provides a high-level look at critical trends and insights from the latest MGMA report, we are committed to diving much deeper into each...
Can You Finally Ditch That Noncompete? A Physician’s Guide to the FTC Ruling
On April 23, 2024, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) voted 3-2 on a “final rule” banning noncompetes nationwide. The premise was that banning noncompetes would lead to economic freedom through job creation, higher wages, and the expansion of the American economy of...
Non-compete clauses–what’s the latest?
Almost every physician will face signing a non-compete clause in their physician contract at some point. A non-compete clause means that the physician must not compete with an employer after the employment period is over. Non-competes prevent physicians from leaving a...
From Financial Support to Active Participation: Join Dr. Sarnoski’s Medical Missions
While volunteering in Guatemala, a woman presented to our clinic appearing pregnant. Her history revealed she had been menstruating heavily for years, often requiring blood transfusions. Her imaging and exams revealed a 30 cm multifibroid tumor. She was scheduled for...
Leading Physician Contract Review Company Welcomes Selena Kanetkar, J.D, as Associate Contract Review Specialist
[Kansas City, MO, 02/21/24] – Contract Diagnostics, a leader in physician contract reviews, is excited to introduce Selena Kanetkara, J.D., as an Associate Contract Review Specialist. With a rich background as a transactional attorney in the life sciences sector,...
6 Essential Rules for Physicians to Secure a Well-Deserved Raise!
The likelihood of receiving a raise without asking for one is virtually zero. We often hear from physicians, some with decades of experience under the same pay structure, expressing regret for not having broached the subject of a raise throughout their careers. Many...
Reflect, Plan, and Prosper: Holidays as a Catalyst for Physician Compensation Planning
In the spirit of the holidays, I invite you to join me in a tradition beyond the typical end-of-year celebrations – a tradition of reflection and planning. This season, as we gather to express our gratitude for the year's gifts, let's also turn our attention to an...
Leading Physician Contract Review Company Welcomes Anu Murthy, Esq., as Associate Contract Review Specialist
Anu Murthy Joins the Team at Contract Diagnostics. [Kansas City, MO, 08/31/23] – Contract Diagnostics, a leader in physician contract reviews, is thrilled to introduce Anu Murthy as an Associate Contract Review Specialist. With her extensive healthcare attorney and...
Charting Your Course: How Staying Informed Impacts Your Physician Compensation Trajectory
In the world of medicine, where precision is paramount, and decisions can mean the difference between life and death, one might assume that physicians are equipped with the same level of accuracy regarding their decisions regarding compensation. After all, doctors...
Decoding MGMA Physician Compensation: Navigating Statistical Pitfalls for Informed Decision-Making
As physicians, we are accustomed to deciphering complex medical cases, but the task can be just as intricate when it comes to understanding our compensation. As physicians eagerly search for insights into their earnings with the release of the latest MGMA DataDive,...
Medicare physician pay has fallen 26% since 2001: Does it affect physician compensation?
The fundamentals of physician compensation models have changed dramatically since my first employment contract in the early 1990s. Compensation plans have taken different forms over the years. My income was based on other factors beyond billings or revenues. I dealt...
Your Financial Health Matters: Unlocking Physician Wealth with Biennial Compensation Checkups
Discovering Financial Wellness: The Importance of Physician Personal Finance As physicians, prioritizing both your health and financial well-being is essential. Just as you recommend annual physicals or bi-annual breast exams to your patients, a financial checkup...
Unlocking the Power of MGMA Report Data: A Guide to Physician Contract Negotiations
Introduction: The Potential of MGMA Data for Physician Compensation Each year, the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) releases a report detailing all aspects of physician compensation. The MGMA report provides data points based on specialties, regions,...
Getting a job in the US as a foreign medical graduate (FMG) physician
Any foreign medical doctor who wants to practice medicine in the US has to meet the following requirements to obtain ECFMG (Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates) certification: Certifying that the FMG obtained a degree listed on the World Directory of...
Physician Contract Renegotiation: Taking the medicine not prescribing it
Reasons for Physician Contract Renegotiation One of the best things about being in practice is seeing those direct deposit paychecks every two weeks. Before long though, like any other professional, physicians begin to wonder if they chose the right career, or if they...
How a Pediatrician Boosted His Salary by $70,000: A Must-Read Case Study for All Physicians
At Contract Diagnostics, our primary mission is to help physicians understand their market value. We do this by thoroughly assessing your current compensation structure and comparing it to other professionals in your field within your geographical region. Our insights...
Physician Compensation: What is Simpson’s Paradox?
Chances are that, as physicians, we get caught up in statistics. After all, we not only study how to interpret and analyze data daily, but we also thrive on getting it right. Our patients, and our reputations, depend on it. One of the easiest things to do is to get...
Your New Resident Physician Checklist: Top 6 Essentials for a Successful Medical Career Start
Congratulations on launching your medical career as a new attending physician! You've finally reached a significant milestone after years of rigorous education and clinical training. At Contract Diagnostics, we're here to guide you through this exciting transition. As...
What happens when ChatGPT reviews a contract?
Do Not Settle for Less Than What You DeserveImagine what a 10%+ increase in your compensation could mean for your financial future. With just a simple conversation with our team, you could be on your way to securing the salary you deserve. Our team can help make that...
Learning to Negotiate: You Don’t Always Get What You Want, But You Only Get What You Ask For
How do you feel when you think of negotiating on behalf of yourself? Palms sweating yet…? Does the thought of a live conversation to negotiate further boost the nerves? Are you unsure how to phrase a question so you don’t sound like a needy or demanding provider? For...
Physician Compensation: Understanding Fair Market Value (FMV) and the Survey Data to Help Calculate It
The number one section physicians refer to when receiving their contract is Compensation. We know our worth and we want to ensure that we are paid fairly. But how do we really know what’s fair? The answer is rather obtuse, yet important to understand as you enter your...
New Year New You New Contract!
What 2023 New Year's goals and intentions have you set? How many of them have anything to do with your job? None?! Let me help you with that. We set so many goals for ourselves in the new year: join a gym, dry January, start meditating, etc etc etc. But what about...
Calendar Year 2023 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule
On November 01, 2022, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a final rule that includes updates and policy changes for Medicare payments under the Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) and other Medicare Part B issues, effective on or after January 1,...
Protect Your Practice When Establishing Contracts with Hospitals
Contracts with hospitals present potential partnership and revenue opportunities; however, financial and state regulations apply to these payments, and if you run afoul of the law, the consequences can be disastrous. Before contracting with a hospital for services...
5 Key Differences of Various Practice Types
Remember graduating from residency and mentally composing your venn diagrams galore trying to make sense of your job options? Or maybe you’re still a resident and just beginning to consider the differences. From outlining your personal and professional goals, the pros...
MGMA data set deep dive (#3 in MGMA series)
Part #1: MGMA Physician Compensation | New Data Set Reveals the Latest Trends Part #2: MGMA data set deep dive Stock market…inflation…expenses…do you feel that visceral response instigated by these words given our current market?! This may directly impact how you are...
Everything You Must Know Before Negotiating a Hospital Contract
Hospitals and health systems have hundreds of ways to legally pay physicians to help them manage care, oversee programs and facilities, and plan and implement strategic initiatives in addition to the traditional payments like ED call coverage and medical...
The Wild Wild West of Physician Compensation
This is an introduction to the Wild Wild West of physician compensation. The Oxford Dictionary defines compensation as: “something, typically money, awarded to someone as a recompense for loss, injury, or suffering” As a physician who has spent countless years...
Physician Non-competes: How To Leave Your Job, Not Your Home
I imagine you’ve all realized by now what an impact a contract can have on your day-to-day life, your job satisfaction, and your quality of life. One of the often-overlooked but highly impactful sections is within the Restrictive Covenants: the non-compete clause....
Get the dedicated and dynamic team on your side who understands your story.
Whether it’s a compensation review or a contract negotiation, you will have peace of mind knowing that your due diligence resulted in the best possible package for your career and family.