How We Ranked These EHRs
We evaluated EHRs for small practices on six dimensions specifically relevant to independent practice operations, not enterprise health system requirements:
- Setup and onboarding speed: How long until you are seeing patients in the new system? For small practices, a 6-month implementation is not acceptable.
- Documentation efficiency: Template quality, voice-to-text support, mobile access, and note completion time per visit.
- Integrated billing: Quality of claims submission, ERA posting, patient billing, and denial management tools built into the platform.
- Patient communication tools: Appointment reminders, patient portal, online scheduling, and telehealth integration.
- True cost of ownership: Monthly subscription, per-provider fees, add-on module costs, implementation fees, and support costs — not just the advertised base price.
- Support quality: Availability, response time, and quality of customer support for independent practices that lack an IT department.
Top EHR Picks for Small Practices
1. athenahealth — Best Overall for Billing-Focused Practices
athenahealth (now athenaOne) is the gold standard for small-to-mid-size practice billing performance. Their revenue cycle management is deeply integrated into the EHR, and they operate on a percentage-of-collections model (typically 4-7% of collections) rather than a flat monthly fee — meaning their financial incentive is aligned with yours.
Strengths: Industry-leading claim acceptance rates. Automated denial management. Consistently strong billing performance benchmarks from MGMA data. Robust patient engagement tools including patient portal, online scheduling, and appointment reminders. Handles CAQH updates automatically.
Weaknesses: Percentage-of-collections pricing becomes expensive at higher revenue levels — a practice collecting $800,000/year pays $48,000-$56,000 annually in EHR/billing fees. Specialty-specific documentation templates are weaker than purpose-built specialty EHRs. Interface is functional but not modern.
Best for: Primary care, internal medicine, family medicine, multi-specialty groups prioritizing billing performance above all other criteria.
Pricing: 4-7% of collections (no flat monthly fee structure for most practices).
2. DrChrono — Best for Mobile-First and iPad-Centric Practices
DrChrono is built specifically for independent physicians who want to document on an iPad and access the full system from mobile. It offers strong template customization, solid billing integration, and a modern interface. Competitive pricing makes it accessible for solo practices and small groups.
Strengths: Best iPad and mobile experience in the market. Highly customizable clinical templates. Built-in telehealth. Good patient portal. Responsive customer support for independent practices. Competitive flat-rate pricing.
Weaknesses: Billing performance lags athenahealth — not the right choice if maximizing claim acceptance rates is your primary priority. Limited specialty-specific depth for complex specialties.
Best for: Solo and small-group practices that prioritize documentation flexibility and mobile access. Concierge practices, cash-pay practices, and practices where the physician wants to own the documentation experience.
Pricing: $199-$499 per provider per month depending on features.
3. Kareo (now Tebra) — Best All-in-One for Independent Practices
Kareo, rebranded as Tebra following its merger with PatientPop, combines EHR, billing, patient engagement, and practice marketing into one platform specifically designed for independent practices. The integration of practice marketing tools (review generation, website, patient acquisition) makes it distinctive for practices focused on growth.
Strengths: True all-in-one platform — EHR, billing, patient engagement, and marketing in a single subscription. Built-in practice marketing and online reputation management. Easy onboarding for new practices. Focused specifically on independent practice needs rather than being a health system product.
Weaknesses: Billing performance is competitive but not best-in-class compared to athenahealth. Documentation templates are adequate but not deep for complex specialties. The merger with PatientPop created some product integration seams that have not fully resolved.
Best for: New practices wanting a single vendor for EHR, billing, and patient acquisition. Practices that want to actively grow their patient base and need marketing tools integrated with their clinical workflow.
Pricing: $125-$300 per provider per month, varying by features selected.
4. SimplePractice — Best for Mental Health and Behavioral Health
SimplePractice is purpose-built for mental health and behavioral health private practices. It handles the specific workflows of therapy practices — insurance billing for behavioral health, scheduling, telehealth, progress notes, and treatment plan documentation — better than any general-purpose EHR.
Strengths: Purpose-built for behavioral health workflows. Excellent telehealth integration with HIPAA-compliant video. Strong insurance billing for behavioral health payers. Client portal with intake paperwork. Clean, easy-to-use interface. Good support for solo and small-group practices.
Weaknesses: Not designed for medical (non-behavioral) specialties. Limited for practices billing complex medical codes or managing chronic disease documentation requirements.
Best for: Therapists, LCSWs, LPCs, psychologists, psychiatrists, and behavioral health practices of any size.
Pricing: $29-$99 per month depending on features and provider count.
5. Jane App — Best for Allied Health and Wellness Practices
Jane App has grown strongly in the US market from its Canadian origins. It covers a wide range of allied health specialties — physical therapy, chiropractic, occupational therapy, naturopathy, acupuncture — with strong scheduling, documentation, and billing tools at an accessible price point.
Strengths: Excellent scheduling functionality — arguably the best scheduling interface in the market for practices with complex appointment types. Good allied health documentation templates. Clean, modern interface. Strong patient booking experience. Responsive customer support.
Weaknesses: US insurance billing is functional but has historically lagged behind US-focused platforms. Not suited for high-volume medical practices with complex billing requirements.
Best for: Physical therapy, chiropractic, occupational therapy, acupuncture, naturopathy, massage therapy, and wellness practices.
Pricing: $54-$109 per month for solo; scales with providers.
6. Healthie — Best for Nutrition and Telehealth-Forward Practices
Healthie is purpose-built for nutrition, dietitian, health coaching, and telehealth-forward practice models. It combines EHR, telehealth, scheduling, and client engagement tools at a price point accessible to solo practitioners and small practices.
Best for: Registered dietitians, health coaches, nutrition practices, functional medicine, and practices with high telehealth volume.
Pricing: $49-$149 per month.
7. eClinicalWorks — Best for High-Volume Independent Practices
eClinicalWorks (eCW) is one of the most widely used EHR platforms in independent practice settings, with strong adoption in primary care, internal medicine, and multi-specialty practices. Version 12 introduced AI-powered documentation tools including HEALOW AI ambient voice documentation, which has meaningfully reduced note completion time for high-volume practices seeing 20+ patients per day.
Strengths: Mature, feature-rich platform with deep specialty templates across primary care, internal medicine, pediatrics, and urgent care. HEALOW patient engagement suite includes appointment reminders, online scheduling, patient portal, and telehealth. Strong billing module with clearinghouse integration and denial tracking. Large user community and extensive third-party integrations. Pricing is competitive for practices with multiple providers.
Weaknesses: Steeper learning curve than newer platforms — new users typically need 4-6 weeks to reach documentation efficiency. Interface feels dated compared to DrChrono or Jane App. Customer support quality is inconsistent and a common complaint in user reviews. Requires hands-on implementation support to configure correctly.
Best for: Primary care, internal medicine, family medicine, and urgent care practices seeing high patient volume where documentation speed and billing performance are the primary criteria. Multi-provider practices that can amortize the learning curve across a larger team.
Pricing: $499-$599 per provider per month (SaaS model). On-premise licensing available at different pricing. Implementation fees vary by practice size.
8. NextGen Healthcare — Best for Multi-Specialty and Ambulatory Practices
NextGen Healthcare serves the mid-market independent practice segment — typically 3-20 providers across one or more specialties. Their Enterprise EHR is purpose-built for ambulatory multi-specialty environments, with strong specialty-specific content for over 30 specialties including dermatology, orthopedics, OB/GYN, and gastroenterology. NextGen has invested significantly in interoperability and value-based care reporting tools.
Strengths: Deep specialty-specific clinical content — more developed than general-purpose EHRs for procedural specialties. Strong population health and quality reporting tools for practices with value-based care contracts. Robust patient engagement with NextGen's Patient Experience Platform. Good interoperability with hospital systems for practices with referral relationships. NextGen Mobile for physician documentation on the go.
Weaknesses: Not well-suited for solo or 1-2 provider practices — pricing and implementation complexity favor larger groups. Implementation timelines run 3-6 months for full deployment. Less competitive for behavioral health and allied health specialties. Per-provider pricing can add up for larger groups.
Best for: Multi-specialty groups of 3+ providers, practices with specialist referral workflows, and independent practices participating in value-based care programs that need quality reporting tools built into the clinical workflow.
Pricing: Custom pricing by practice size — typically $300-$600 per provider per month for ambulatory practices. Contact NextGen directly for a quote.
9. AdvancedMD — Best for Practices Prioritizing Integrated RCM
AdvancedMD offers a fully integrated EHR, practice management, and revenue cycle management platform built specifically for independent practices. Their bundled RCM model — 5% of collections with a $4,000 monthly minimum — is distinctive in the market and aligns the vendor's financial incentive with practice collections performance. For practices billing $80,000+ per month, this model becomes competitive with flat-rate alternatives.
Strengths: Deeply integrated billing and RCM — charge capture, claim scrubbing, ERA posting, denial management, and patient billing all in one platform. No upfront software cost on the RCM model. Strong reporting suite for practice financial performance. Good telehealth integration. Provider scheduling and appointment management tools are well-developed. 24/7 customer support.
Weaknesses: Percentage-of-collections pricing becomes expensive at high revenue levels. Not the right model for cash-pay or concierge practices where collections volume is low. Documentation templates are functional but not specialty-depth compared to purpose-built specialty EHRs. Mobile experience lags behind DrChrono.
Best for: Independent practices billing $80,000-$300,000 per month that want integrated RCM without hiring a separate billing company. Multi-specialty practices wanting a single platform for clinical documentation and revenue cycle. New practices that want $0 software cost upfront and are willing to pay on collections performance.
Pricing: 5% of collections with $4,000/month minimum (bundled EHR + RCM). Flat-rate software-only plans available starting at $429/provider/month.
10. Practice Fusion — Best Free EHR for Cash-Constrained Startups
Practice Fusion offers something rare in the EHR market: a completely free cloud-based EHR. For solo practitioners testing a new practice model or cash-pay providers who want to minimize overhead, Practice Fusion provides basic clinical documentation, scheduling, e-prescribing, and charting at zero cost. The trade-off is an ad-supported model and limited functionality compared to paid alternatives.
Strengths: Completely free cloud-based EHR with no subscription fees. Basic scheduling, e-prescribing, and clinical charting included. Low barrier to entry for solo practices testing the waters. No long-term contract or financial commitment. Adequate for straightforward documentation needs.
Weaknesses: Ad-supported model — pharmaceutical and health product ads appear within the workflow. Limited billing integration — no built-in revenue cycle management. Basic documentation templates that lack specialty depth. Customer support is community-based rather than dedicated. No integrated RCM means manual claims submission or a separate billing service.
Best for: Cash-strapped solo startups, locum tenens providers building a patient panel, and cash-pay practices wanting $0 software cost while they validate their practice model.
Pricing: Free (ad-supported). Paid add-ons available for additional features.
11. CureMD — Best for Multi-Location Independent Groups
CureMD targets the independent practice group segment — typically 3-15 providers across multiple locations. Their platform combines EHR, practice management, and billing into a unified cloud-based system with strong multi-location scheduling and revenue cycle analytics. CureMD supports specialty templates for over 30 specialties, making it flexible for multi-specialty groups that need a single platform across sites.
Strengths: Strong multi-location support with unified scheduling across sites. Integrated practice management and billing module with denial tracking. Good specialty templates for 30+ specialties including orthopedics, cardiology, and gastroenterology. Cloud-based with mobile app for provider access. Revenue cycle analytics dashboard for tracking performance by location, provider, and payer.
Weaknesses: Interface feels dated compared to newer platforms like DrChrono or Jane App. Implementation takes 6-8 weeks — longer than cloud-native alternatives. Pricing is not transparent — requires a demo and custom quote. Smaller market presence means fewer third-party integrations and community resources compared to eClinicalWorks or athenahealth.
Best for: Multi-location independent groups of 3-15 providers needing unified scheduling and billing across sites. Multi-specialty practices that want one EHR platform supporting diverse specialty workflows.
Pricing: Custom — typically $295-$595 per provider per month depending on practice size and features. Contact CureMD for a demo and quote.
12. Elation Health — Best for Independent Primary Care
Elation Health is purpose-built for independent primary care physicians who want a clean, modern EHR that supports the way they think about patient care. The platform has earned strong praise from physicians for its documentation workflow — charting feels more like writing a clinical note than filling out a form. Elation is particularly well-suited for direct primary care (DPC) practices and independent family medicine providers.
Strengths: Purpose-built for independent primary care with a physician-designed interface. Clean, modern UI that is consistently praised in physician reviews for documentation speed. Strong clinical decision support integrated into the charting workflow. Direct primary care (DPC) friendly — supports membership billing models. Excellent documentation workflow that reduces clicks and note completion time. Good patient communication tools.
Weaknesses: Limited outside primary care — not the right fit for procedural specialties, behavioral health, or allied health. Billing module is functional but less robust than athenahealth for complex billing scenarios. Smaller customer base compared to market leaders means fewer integrations with third-party tools. Higher price point than some competitors for solo providers.
Best for: Independent primary care, family medicine, internal medicine, and direct primary care (DPC) practices. Physicians who prioritize a clean documentation experience and want an EHR designed specifically for primary care workflows.
Pricing: $375-$450 per provider per month.
Comparison Table
| EHR | Best For | Starting Price | Billing Model | Telehealth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| athenahealth | Billing-focused primary care | 4-7% of collections | % of collections | Yes (add-on) |
| DrChrono | Mobile-first independent practices | $199/provider/mo | Flat monthly | Built-in |
| Kareo / Tebra | New and growth-focused practices | $125/provider/mo | Flat monthly | Built-in |
| SimplePractice | Behavioral health and therapy | $29/mo | Flat monthly | Built-in (HIPAA) |
| Jane App | Allied health and wellness | $54/mo | Flat monthly | Built-in |
| Healthie | Nutrition and telehealth practices | $49/mo | Flat monthly | Built-in |
| eClinicalWorks | High-volume independent practices | $499/provider/mo | Flat monthly | HEALOW (built-in) |
| NextGen Healthcare | Multi-specialty ambulatory groups | $300/provider/mo | Flat monthly (custom) | Built-in |
| AdvancedMD | Integrated RCM practices | 5% of collections | % of collections or flat | Built-in |
| Practice Fusion | Cash-constrained startups | Free | Ad-supported | No |
| CureMD | Multi-location independent groups | $295/provider/mo | Flat monthly (custom) | Built-in |
| Elation Health | Independent primary care | $375/provider/mo | Flat monthly | Built-in |
Best EHR by Specialty
- Primary care / internal medicine: athenahealth (billing performance), DrChrono (flexibility), Kareo/Tebra (all-in-one)
- Mental health / therapy / psychiatry: SimplePractice — purpose-built, no close second for independent behavioral health
- Physical therapy / chiropractic / occupational therapy: Jane App, WebPT (PT-specific), ChiroTouch (chiro-specific)
- Dermatology: Modernizing Medicine (EMA), Nextech — purpose-built with procedure documentation and photo integration
- Pediatrics: PCC EHR (pediatrics-specific), athenahealth with pediatric templates
- Urgent care: Experity, eClinicalWorks
- Nutrition / dietitian / health coaching: Healthie, Nutrium
- Concierge / DPC (direct primary care): Atlas.md (DPC-specific), Hint Health — both built specifically for membership-based primary care
Specialty-Specific EHR Recommendations: A Deeper Look
The "best EHR by specialty" list above gives you a starting point. Below, we break down three specialty categories where EHR choice has the biggest impact on daily workflow and revenue — and where getting it wrong is most costly.
Mental Health and Behavioral Health
Behavioral health practices have unique EHR requirements that general-purpose platforms handle poorly. Key needs include structured psychotherapy note templates (separate from the medical record per privacy rules), treatment plan documentation, built-in HIPAA-compliant telehealth, and insurance billing workflows optimized for CPT codes 90837 (53-minute psychotherapy) and 90834 (45-minute psychotherapy) — the two codes that generate the majority of revenue for therapy practices.
SimplePractice leads for solo therapists and small group practices. Its interface is clean, intake paperwork is automated through the client portal, and telehealth is seamlessly integrated. Insurance billing handles behavioral health payers well, and the pricing ($29-$99/month) is accessible for solo practitioners. The main limitation is scalability — practices above 10 providers may need more robust reporting.
TherapyNotes wins on clinical documentation depth. Its progress note templates are the most structured in the behavioral health EHR market, with built-in prompts for treatment goals, interventions, and clinical assessments. For practices that prioritize clinical documentation quality and audit readiness, TherapyNotes is the stronger choice. Pricing runs $49-$59 per provider per month.
Valant is the best fit for psychiatric practices that need integrated e-prescribing alongside therapy documentation. Valant combines behavioral health EHR with psychiatric prescribing workflows, medication management tracking, and outcome measurement tools. For practices with both therapists and prescribers on staff, Valant eliminates the need for separate systems. Pricing is custom but typically $100-$200 per provider per month.
Chiropractic
Chiropractic practices need EHR features that general platforms rarely support well: structured SOAP notes with chiropractic-specific terminology, X-ray and imaging integration, auto-accident and personal injury (PI) billing workflows, and documentation that supports medical necessity for extended treatment plans.
ChiroTouch dominates chiropractic market share and for good reason — it is purpose-built for chiropractic workflow from intake to billing. SOAP note templates are pre-configured for chiropractic care, macros speed up documentation, and the billing module handles PI and auto-accident cases that require separate billing workflows. ChiroTouch also integrates with imaging systems for X-ray management. The main drawback is the interface, which feels dated compared to newer alternatives.
Jane App is the modern alternative for chiropractic practices that prioritize a clean patient booking experience and scheduling flexibility. Jane handles chiropractic documentation adequately and has a significantly better patient-facing experience than ChiroTouch. However, its chiropractic billing depth — particularly for PI and auto-accident cases — is less robust. Best for cash-pay and wellness-oriented chiropractic practices.
Genesis Chiropractic Software targets high-volume, multi-location chiropractic practices. Its compliance tools, automated documentation workflows, and multi-location reporting make it the strongest choice for chiropractic groups running 3+ offices. Genesis also includes patient retention and reactivation tools. Pricing is custom and typically higher than ChiroTouch or Jane.
Urgent Care
Urgent care practices operate differently from primary care — patient throughput is higher, documentation must be fast, radiology ordering and results management are frequent, and the billing mix includes more acute visit codes. The EHR must support fast triage workflows, rapid documentation, and high patient volume without bottlenecking providers.
Experity (formerly DocuTAP) is the purpose-built leader in urgent care EHR. It is designed specifically for high-throughput urgent care workflows: fast triage documentation, pre-built visit templates for common urgent care presentations (URI, UTI, laceration, fracture), integrated lab and radiology ordering, and occupational medicine modules. If you are opening or operating a dedicated urgent care facility, Experity is the default choice. Pricing is custom and typically $500-$700 per provider per month.
eClinicalWorks is a strong option for physician-owned urgent care practices, particularly those that also operate primary care or walk-in clinics. eCW's template flexibility allows configuration for urgent care workflows, and its billing module handles the urgent care code mix well. The advantage over Experity is that eCW can serve both your urgent care and primary care operations on one platform if you run both.
DrChrono works for smaller urgent care operations and walk-in clinics where iPad-based documentation is preferred. Its template customization allows urgent care workflow configuration, and the mobile-first design supports providers moving between rooms quickly. DrChrono is less robust than Experity for high-volume dedicated urgent cares but is a good fit for practices seeing 20-30 patients per day.
What to Avoid When Choosing an EHR
Long-term contracts without performance provisions. Some EHR vendors require 3-5 year contracts. If the product doesn't perform as promised, you are locked in. Negotiate for annual terms initially, and if you must sign multi-year, include performance benchmarks that allow early termination.
Hidden implementation and training fees. The advertised monthly fee rarely reflects your true cost. Ask for a complete fee schedule covering: setup/implementation fees, data migration costs, training hours included vs. billed, support tier limitations, and any per-transaction fees on claims or patient payments.
Choosing by brand name alone. Epic, Cerner, and Meditech are excellent for large health systems. They are mismatched for independent practices — overcomplicated, expensive, and designed for thousands of users. The hospital using Epic is not a recommendation for your 3-provider practice.
Underweighting support quality. Independent practices don't have an IT department. Your EHR vendor's support quality directly affects your operational risk when something breaks or you need to resolve a billing issue. Check support hours, response time commitments, and current user reviews on G2 or Capterra before deciding.
EHR Pricing Transparency: What You Actually Pay
The advertised monthly fee for an EHR is rarely what you actually pay. Implementation, data migration, training, and add-on modules can add 30-60% to your Year 1 costs. The table below shows realistic total cost of ownership for a solo provider, including the fees that vendors often bury in the fine print.
| EHR | Monthly Fee | Implementation | Data Migration | Training | Year 1 Total | Ongoing Annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| athenahealth | 4-7% of collections | Included | Included | Included | $48,000-$56,000* | $48,000-$56,000* |
| DrChrono | $199-$499/mo | $1,000-$2,000 | $500-$1,000 | Included | $4,388-$7,988 | $2,388-$5,988 |
| Kareo / Tebra | $125-$300/mo | $500-$1,000 | $500 | Included | $2,500-$4,600 | $1,500-$3,600 |
| SimplePractice | $29-$99/mo | Minimal (self-serve) | N/A | Self-serve | $348-$1,188 | $348-$1,188 |
| eClinicalWorks | $499-$599/mo | $5,000-$10,000 | $1,000-$2,000 | $1,000-$2,000 | $12,988-$21,188 | $5,988-$7,188 |
| Practice Fusion | Free | $0 | $0 | Self-serve | $0 (+ time cost) | $0 |
| Elation Health | $375-$450/mo | $1,000-$1,500 | $500 | Included | $6,000-$6,900 | $4,500-$5,400 |
*athenahealth pricing based on a practice collecting $800,000/year at 6-7% of collections.
What about NextGen, CureMD, and AdvancedMD? These vendors use "contact for pricing" models, which makes comparison harder. NextGen and CureMD provide custom quotes based on practice size, specialty mix, and feature requirements. AdvancedMD's RCM model (5% of collections with $4,000 monthly minimum) is transparent but requires revenue modeling to compare against flat-rate alternatives. When evaluating these vendors, request a written quote that itemizes every fee category — subscription, implementation, data migration, training, support tier, and any per-transaction costs. Bring your current denial rate and collection rate to the demo so the vendor can model your actual cost rather than quoting a generic number.
Switching EHRs: When It Is Worth It
EHR switching is disruptive and expensive — plan for $5,000-$30,000 in data migration, training, and productivity loss depending on practice size. It is worth it if:
- Your current EHR's billing performance is costing you more in denied claims than switching would cost
- Provider and staff frustration with documentation is measurably affecting productivity and retention
- Your current vendor has raised prices significantly without commensurate improvements
- Your practice model has changed (adding telehealth, switching to direct pay, adding providers) and your current system doesn't support the new model
If you are considering a switch, run a 90-day parallel analysis: calculate your current denial rate, collection rate, and average documentation time per visit. Use these as benchmarks to evaluate prospective vendors during demos — don't just look at the interface.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best EHR for a solo medical practice?
For solo primary care, DrChrono or Kareo/Tebra offer the best balance of cost, features, and implementation speed. For solo behavioral health, SimplePractice is the clear leader. For solo allied health, Jane App is the top choice. The best EHR for your solo practice depends on your specialty — there is no single universal answer.
How much does an EHR cost for a small practice?
Flat-rate EHRs for small practices run $29-$500 per provider per month depending on features. Percentage-of-collections models (athenahealth) run 4-7% of collections — typically more expensive at higher revenue levels but aligning the vendor's incentive with yours. Total cost of ownership including implementation, training, and support typically adds 20-40% above the base subscription in Year 1.
What is the easiest EHR to implement for a new practice?
SimplePractice and Jane App are consistently cited as the fastest to implement for their target specialties — most practices are operational within 1-2 weeks. DrChrono and Kareo/Tebra typically take 2-4 weeks. athenahealth's full onboarding runs 4-8 weeks. Enterprise systems (Epic, Cerner, Meditech) take months and are inappropriate for small practices.
Does EHR choice affect my ability to get credentialed with insurance?
EHR choice does not directly affect insurance credentialing — credentialing is a separate process managed through CAQH ProView and payer portals. However, your EHR's billing module determines how claims are submitted once you are credentialed, and billing module quality varies significantly. Evaluate billing capabilities as a separate dimension from clinical documentation.
Can I use more than one EHR or switch between them?
You can switch EHRs, but migration is costly and disruptive. Most practices switch once every 5-10 years. Choose carefully upfront by getting hands-on demos, speaking with practices in your specialty using the system, and evaluating support quality before committing. Using two EHRs simultaneously is not recommended — it creates data fragmentation and doubles administrative complexity.
Is a free EHR like Practice Fusion worth it?
For cash-strapped startups testing their practice model, yes — Practice Fusion lets you get started with zero software cost. However, for any practice billing insurance, the lack of integrated revenue cycle management makes it a false economy. You will spend more time on manual billing, claim follow-up, and denial management than the $200-400 per month a paid EHR with integrated billing would cost. Think of Practice Fusion as a temporary tool, not a long-term solution for insurance-based practices.
Which EHR has the best telehealth integration?
SimplePractice and Healthie have the most seamless built-in telehealth — video visits launch directly from the schedule with no separate login or platform. DrChrono and Kareo/Tebra also include built-in telehealth at no additional cost. athenahealth and eClinicalWorks offer telehealth as add-on modules that cost extra. If telehealth represents more than 20% of your visits, prioritize an EHR with native telehealth rather than bolting on a third-party solution.
Can I switch EHRs without losing patient data?
Yes, but data migration quality varies significantly between vendors. Most EHR platforms can import CCD/CCDA files (the standard health data exchange format) and basic demographics like patient name, DOB, allergies, and medication lists. However, historical progress notes, scanned documents, custom data fields, and detailed billing history may not migrate cleanly. Budget $2,000-$10,000 for data migration depending on your record volume and the complexity of your existing data.
What EHR do most independent doctors use?
athenahealth and eClinicalWorks have the largest market share among independent medical practices. Kareo/Tebra is growing fastest in the new practice segment, particularly among practices in their first 1-3 years. SimplePractice dominates behavioral health private practices. For allied health, Jane App has gained significant market share. Market share does not always equal best fit — the right EHR depends on your specialty, practice size, and billing model.
Related Resources
- Medical Billing Cost Guide — Billing service costs if you outsource vs. use EHR billing tools
- Outsource vs. In-House Billing — Whether to use your EHR's billing or a separate billing service
- Starting a Medical Practice Checklist — Full operational checklist for new practices
- Browse EHR and Practice Management Partners
About GetPracticeHelp
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Last updated: March 2026 | Author: Bryan, Practice Success Team