Ask a locum tenens agency what their markup is and watch what happens. You'll get a bill rate. You'll get a list of everything that rate includes. You'll get reassurance that it's competitive. What you almost never get is the number itself: the percentage of your spend that goes to the agency rather than the clinician.

Locum tenens is temporary medical staffing that allows hospitals, clinics, and telehealth companies to seamlessly fill coverage gaps with licensed providers. This comprehensive 2026 guide breaks down everything healthcare employers need to know about navigating the $9.9 billion locum tenens market.

Almost a quarter of dental hygienist positions are unfilled right now, and neither major staffing platform has built anything for it. Here's what's actually driving the gap.

Locum coverage past ~665 hours can cost more than a permanent hire. Here's the breakeven formula, what drives it, and how to run the number for your specialty.

While normalized travel nursing rates have driven overall healthcare staffing revenue down by 6%, locum tenens pay for specialized physicians like surgeons and oncologists continues to climb. Employers must look past the aggregate numbers and benchmark their staffing budgets by specific specialty and role.

Most multi-state licensing guides assume you have a compliance team and six months to plan. This one doesn't. Here's what small telehealth operators with under 10 providers actually need to know to get licensed across states without missing their launch date.