A growing number of clinicians are looking to work in healthcare as independent contractors, giving them more flexibility over when and how they work.

While this can sound straightforward in theory, a lack of clarity around worker classification can complicate opportunities for these professionals.

The Department of Labor has proposed a new rule, currently undergoing final review, that could change how businesses engage with independent contractors. One expert argues the change would be for the better.

To explain what the rule could mean for healthcare workers and employers, Senior Writer Anastassia Gliadkovskaya sits down with Regan Parker, chief legal and public affairs officer at ShiftKey, a platform that connects independent healthcare workers with open shifts at healthcare facilities.

To learn more about the topics in this episode: 

Department of Labor's proposed foreign worker wage increases are more tough news for healthcare staf… 

A growing number of clinicians are looking to work in healthcare as independent contractors, giving them more flexibility over when and how they work.
While this can sound straightforward in theory, a lack of clarity around worker classification can complicate opportunities for these professionals.
The Department of Labor has proposed a <a href="https://advocacy.sba.gov/2026/03/03/dol-proposes-new-independent-contractor-rule/">new rule</a>, currently undergoing final review, that could change how businesses engage with independent contractors. One expert argues the change would be for the better.
To explain what the rule could mean for healthcare workers and employers, Senior Writer Anastassia Gliadkovskaya sits down with Regan Parker, chief legal and public affairs officer at ShiftKey, a platform that connects independent healthcare workers with open shifts at healthcare facilities.
To learn more about the topics in this episode:&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/providers/department-labors-proposed-foreign-worker-wage-increases-are-more-tough-news-healthcare" aria-label="Link Department of Labor's proposed foreign worker wage increases are more tough news for healthcare staf&hellip;">Department of Labor's proposed foreign worker wage increases are more tough news for healthcare staf&hellip;</a>&nbsp;

Podnosis: the pulse of the healthcare industry. Every week, journalists from Fierce Healthcare dive into some of the industry’s biggest trends. We talk to the experts about what’s important now so you can prep for the future. Hear about all things healthcare, from physician practices to hospital chains and insurance giants—and those that mix all three—plus the tech they use, disruptors looking to compete and people moving the sector forward. Follow Podnosis on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon or wherever you get your podcasts.

Podnosis: the pulse of the healthcare industry. Every week, journalists from Fierce Healthcare dive into some of the industry’s biggest trends. We talk to the experts about what’s important now so you can prep for the future. Hear about all things healthcare, from physician practices to hospital chains and insurance giants—and those that mix all three—plus the tech they use, disruptors looking to compete and people moving the sector forward. Follow Podnosis on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon or wherever you get your podcasts.

Podnosis

Podnosis: the pulse of the healthcare industry. Every week, journalists from Fierce Healthcare dive into some of the industry’s biggest trends. We talk to the experts about what’s important now so you can prep for the future. Hear about all things healthcare, from physician practices to hospital chains and insurance giants—and those that mix all three—plus the tech they use, disruptors looking to compete and people moving the sector forward. Follow Podnosis on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon or wherever you get your podcasts.

The future of independent contracting in healthcare

For years, health systems have been working to address their environmental impact. These efforts are largely voluntary and require systemwide buy-in to be effective. Some organizations are more sophisticated in setting sustainability goals and further along in putting them into practice.

Senior Writer Anastassia Gliadkovskaya talks with Beth Schenk, Ph.D., chief environmental stewardship officer at Providence, about the climate impacts she has witnessed as a nurse and her health system’s sustainability journey.

To learn more about the topics in this episode: 
New procurement guide for hospitals, payers takes aim at AI's environmental impact
In next phase of sustainability, UCI Health, Kaiser Permanente, and others turn to electric hospital… 
How policy, reimbursement incentives, could help healthcare address its climate footprint
'We can't do this alone': Hospitals share lessons from Hurricane Helene to prepare for extreme weath… 

For years, health systems have been working to address their environmental impact. These efforts are largely voluntary and require systemwide buy-in to be effective. Some organizations are more sophisticated in setting sustainability goals and further along in putting them into practice.
Senior Writer Anastassia Gliadkovskaya talks with Beth Schenk, Ph.D., chief environmental stewardship officer at Providence, about the climate impacts she has witnessed as a nurse and her health system&rsquo;s sustainability journey.
To learn more about the topics in this episode:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/health-tech/health-care-without-harm-ai-procurement-guide-focuses-environment" aria-label="Link New procurement guide for hospitals, payers takes aim at AI's environmental impact">New procurement guide for hospitals, payers takes aim at AI's environmental impact</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/hospitals/next-phase-sustainability-uci-health-kaiser-permanente-turn-electric-hospitals" aria-label="Link In next phase of sustainability, UCI Health, Kaiser Permanente, and others turn to electric hospital&hellip;">In next phase of sustainability, UCI Health, Kaiser Permanente, and others turn to electric hospital&hellip;</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li><a href="https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/regulatory/study-incentives-healthcare-address-its-climate-footprint" aria-label="Link How policy, reimbursement incentives, could help healthcare address its climate footprint">How policy, reimbursement incentives, could help healthcare address its climate footprint</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/hospitals/we-cant-do-alone-hospitals-share-learnings-hurricane-helene" aria-label="Link 'We can't do this alone': Hospitals share lessons from Hurricane Helene to prepare for extreme weath&hellip;">'We can't do this alone': Hospitals share lessons from Hurricane Helene to prepare for extreme weath&hellip;</a>&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

How Providence is tackling its climate footprint

Racial disparities in breast cancer have persisted for years. Though Black women have a slightly lower incidence of breast cancer, they face a mortality rate that is 38% higher than that of white women. One researcher in Georgia is focused on addressing those inequities in her community.

Lauren McCullough, Ph.D., an epidemiology researcher, is running several studies investigating disparities across breast and gynecologic cancers. She also founded a peer support community to elevate the voices of marginalized patients going through cancer treatment. Senior Writer Anastassia Gliadkovskaya talks with McCullough about these efforts and what they could mean at scale.

To learn more about the topics in this episode: 
Women's oncology market will reach $110B by 2030 across therapeutics, diagnostics and care delivery 
The cold cap coverage gap and a cancer survivor’s push for change 
Breast cancer tops list of most-studied diseases for 5th year in a row: report 
Not all patient care access is equal when it comes to mammograms, CDC report finds

Racial disparities in breast cancer have persisted for years. Though Black women have a slightly lower incidence of breast cancer, they face a mortality rate that is <a href="https://www.cancer.org/content/dam/cancer-org/research/cancer-facts-and-statistics/breast-cancer-facts-and-figures/2024/breast-cancer-facts-and-figures-2024.pdf">38% higher</a> than that of white women. One researcher in Georgia is focused on addressing those inequities in her community.
Lauren McCullough, Ph.D., an epidemiology researcher, is running several studies investigating disparities across breast and gynecologic cancers. She also founded a peer support community to elevate the voices of marginalized patients going through cancer treatment. Senior Writer Anastassia Gliadkovskaya talks with McCullough about these efforts and what they could mean at scale.
To learn more about the topics in this episode:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/finance/pwc-report-claims-womens-oncology-will-grow-65b-75b-today-100b-110b-2030-recommends" aria-label="Link Women's oncology market will reach $110B by 2030 across therapeutics, diagnostics and care delivery">Women's oncology market will reach $110B by 2030 across therapeutics, diagnostics and care delivery</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li><a href="https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/providers/benefits-scalp-cooling-told-breast-cancer-survivor" aria-label="Link The cold cap coverage gap and a cancer survivor&rsquo;s push for change">The cold cap coverage gap and a cancer survivor&rsquo;s push for change</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li><a href="https://www.fiercebiotech.com/cro/breast-cancer-tops-list-most-studied-diseases-5th-year-row-report" aria-label="Link Breast cancer tops list of most-studied diseases for 5th year in a row: report">Breast cancer tops list of most-studied diseases for 5th year in a row: report</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li><a href="https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/practices/not-all-patient-care-access-equal-when-it-comes-mammograms-new-report-shows" aria-label="Link Not all patient care access is equal when it comes to mammograms, CDC report finds">Not all patient care access is equal when it comes to mammograms, CDC report finds</a></li>
</ul>

Breast cancer and Black women: Investigating the disparities

Payers and providers agree on many of healthcare's most pressing challenges. Yet despite broad consensus around rising costs, workforce shortages and administrative complexity, operational friction continues to slow progress. Why? According to Yusuf Qasim, president of payments optimization at Zelis, alignment on the problem does not automatically create alignment on the solution.

In this episode of Podnosis, Qasim discusses findings from Zelis' State of the Healthcare Financial Experience Report and examines where collaboration opportunities remain untapped. He explains why the industry has no shortage of data or analytical capabilities, but often struggles to connect insights across organizations. The conversation explores persistent pain points, including payment reconciliation, claims processing, denials, appeals and administrative burden, while highlighting practical steps healthcare stakeholders can take to improve transparency and strengthen collaboration.

The discussion also looks at how organizations should evaluate new technology investments, why reducing manual work may be one of the most important success metrics, and where payers and providers can make meaningful progress over the next several months. For healthcare leaders focused on operational efficiency, stakeholder trust and financial experience, this episode offers a timely perspective on turning shared priorities into measurable results.

Payers and providers agree on many of healthcare's most pressing challenges. Yet despite broad consensus around rising costs, workforce shortages and administrative complexity, operational friction continues to slow progress. Why? According to Yusuf Qasim, president of payments optimization at Zelis, alignment on the problem does not automatically create alignment on the solution.
In this episode of Podnosis, Qasim discusses findings from Zelis' State of the Healthcare Financial Experience Report and examines where collaboration opportunities remain untapped. He explains why the industry has no shortage of data or analytical capabilities, but often struggles to connect insights across organizations. The conversation explores persistent pain points, including payment reconciliation, claims processing, denials, appeals and administrative burden, while highlighting practical steps healthcare stakeholders can take to improve transparency and strengthen collaboration.
The discussion also looks at how organizations should evaluate new technology investments, why reducing manual work may be one of the most important success metrics, and where payers and providers can make meaningful progress over the next several months. For healthcare leaders focused on operational efficiency, stakeholder trust and financial experience, this episode offers a timely perspective on turning shared priorities into measurable results.

The future of independent contracting in healthcare

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