MGMA DataDive, Done Right: Understanding Provider Compensation with Data Experts Jennifer Sanchez and Liz Gurley

On this episode of the MGMA Insights Podcast, host and senior editor Daniel Williams sits down with Jennifer Sanchez and Liz Gurley, data experts at MGMA, to kick off a limited series focused on MGMA data — how it’s collected, how it’s used, and how medical groups can apply it with confidence.

The conversation starts with one of MGMA’s most widely used — and most frequently misunderstood — datasets: MGMA Provider Compensation. Together, they unpack what DataDive is (and isn’t), how benchmarking really works, why percentiles cause so much confusion, and how leaders can use compensation and productivity data to support providers without turning benchmarks into prescriptions.

Episode Takeaways

• What MGMA DataDive actually is — A national benchmarking platform built from annual survey data across private practices, health systems, and large organizations, designed to help groups compare compensation, productivity, and financial performance against true peers.
• Why provider compensation data is often misunderstood — MGMA does not tell practices what they should pay or produce; the data provides context and comparison, not mandates or targets.
• How organizations really use the data — From contract negotiations and physician recruitment to internal KPI tracking, productivity analysis, and leadership decision-making across multiple roles.
• Why the data lags by a year — and why that matters — Annualized, validated data allows for accuracy, consistency, and meaningful peer comparison, even if it’s not real-time.
• Percentiles explained without the math headache — The 50th percentile is simply the median, not a goalpost. Half of organizations fall above it, half below it, and neither position is inherently good or bad.
• There is no “right” percentile — Compensation philosophy varies by organization, specialty, geography, provider tenure, and strategy. Best practice is starting at the median and asking why you fall where you do.
• Why compensation and productivity must be viewed together — Looking at total compensation without work RVUs, encounters, or collections can lead to misleading conclusions and unproductive conversations.
• Tools that make benchmarking actionable — Features like the Provider Report Card, pay-to-production plotter, and upcoming Procedural Profile Platform help practices move from raw data to informed discussions and strategy.

Resources

• Connect with Liz Gurley on LinkedIn
• Connect with Jennifer Sanchez on LinkedIn
• MGMA DataDive Collection
• MGMA Provider Compensation Data
• MGMA Procedural Profile
• MGMA Podcast Network

Email us at dwilliams@mgma.com if you would like to appear on an episode. If you have a question about your practice that you would like us to answer, send an email to advisor@mgma.com. Don’t forget to subscribe to our network wherever you get your podcasts!