A new study from Dr. Bill, a medical billing platform powered by RBCx, has found that billing and insurance-related administration are key contributors to physican burnout in Canada.
The report sheds light on how growing administrative complexity within the country's healthcare and insurance systems is reducing physicians' ability to focus on patient care.
Based on survey data from nearly 500 physicians, the study found that billing is the single most time-consuming non-clinical task across all practice settings.
Seventy-two per cent (72%) of respondents said administrative duties contribute significantly to burnout, while 77% said these tasks reduce the time they can spend with patients. The report also noted that half of physicians believe their administrative workload is worsening.
Non-clinical work, including billing, managing professional insurance, and other financial tasks, takes an average of 7.5 hours per week, much of it unpaid. These duties reflect growing strain within the health insurance and claims system, where errors, rejections, and inconsistent reimbursement processes continue to create challenges for physicians.
Dr.Bill CEO Maris Lush said the findings point to systemic issues in how insurance billing and documentation are managed, noting that reducing non-clinical burdens will require a mix of technological and policy-driven solutions.
The study also highlighted opportunities for insurers, billing providers, and policymakers to collaborate on more efficient systems. Streamlined billing platforms, integrated claim management tools, and the use of artificial intelligence to automate administrative tasks could reduce rejected claims and improve payment timelines. Aligning compensation models with care complexity was also cited as a priority.
For the insurance sector, these findings reinforce the need to modernize medical billing and claims processes to reduce inefficiencies and physician frustration. As insurers look to digital transformation and automation, collaboration with technology providers may help enhance both provider experience and claims accuracy within the broader healthcare ecosystem.
