Advocacy Summit Agenda
March 16-17, 2026 | Hilton National Mall, Washington, DC
Advocacy Summit 2026 Agenda
Sunday, March 15, 2026 - Registration
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4-6 p.m. |
Registration Location: L’Enfant Ballroom Foyer |
Monday, March 16, 2026 - Policy Institute
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7:30-9 a.m. |
Registration Location: L’Enfant Ballroom Foyer |
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7:30-9 a.m. |
Continental Breakfast Location: L’Enfant Ballroom Foyer/Solarium |
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8-9 a.m. |
Capitol Hill Day Training Session Location: L’Enfant Ballroom |
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9:10-9:20 a.m. |
Welcome Location: L’Enfant Ballroom Foyer |
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9:20-10:05 a.m. |
Keynote Session Join Lauren Riplinger, JD, Chief Public Policy and Impact Officer, pd̽»¨, as she moderates a discussion with Amy Gleason, Acting Administrator, US DOGE Service and Strategic Advisor, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Lauren and Amy will discuss the CMS Interoperability Framework and how the initiative is advancing nationwide data exchange and increasing the ability for patients to access their health data. |
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10:05-10:35 a.m. |
Networking Break Location: L’Enfant Ballroom Foyer |
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10:35-11:20 a.m. |
Building Patient Trust to Improve Patient Outcomes During this discussion, pd̽»¨ Program Specialist, Sarah Gericke, and Nell Buhlman, Chief Strategy Officer from Press Ganey will discuss the importance of trust when collecting, using, and sharing social determinants of health (SDOH) data. They will also discuss how building and maintaining trust with SDOH data can help improve health outcomes, and what can be done to advance public policy to enhance patient trust. |
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11:20 a.m.-12:05 p.m. |
Global Policy Shaping HI at Home and Abroad Join Andrew Tomlinson, Senior Director of Regulatory and International Affairs, pd̽»¨, as he sits down with Sue Bowman, Senior Director Coding Policy and Compliance, for a discussion on pd̽»¨â€™s role in shaping HI policy on the global stage, including Sue’s participation in the World Health Organization, and how decisions impacting HI are made at global convenings. |
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12:05-1:20 p.m. |
Buffet Lunch Location: L’Enfant Ballroom Foyer/Solarium |
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1:20-2:05 p.m. |
A Government Affairs Outlook for 2026 Join Lauren Riplinger, JD, Chief Public Policy and Impact Officer, pd̽»¨, as she moderates a panel on what the political landscape looks like in 2026. Panelists include Lindsay Austin, Principal, Troutman Strategies and Stuart Chapman, Partner, Thorn Run Partners. |
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2:05-2:50 p.m. |
The MATCH IT Act: Innovations and Challenges in Patient Matching Join Caterina DeBarros, MPP, Manager of Government Affairs, pd̽»¨ as she moderates a panel on patient identification and matching. Panelists include Cassie Ballard, Senior Director, Congressional Affairs, College of Healthcare Information Management Executives, Frantia Dozier, RHIA, Data Analyst, Beech Acres Parenting Center, JP Moreland, Legislative Assistant, Office of Representative Mike Kelly (R-PA), and Samantha Warren, Chief of Staff, Office of Representative Bill Foster (D-IL). |
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2:50-3:20 p.m. |
Networking Break Location: L’Enfant Ballroom Foyer |
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3:20-4:05 p.m. |
Healthcare Policy in the 119th Congress Join Kate McFadyen, MA, Senior Director of Government Affairs, pd̽»¨, as she moderates a panel with congressional staff on what health policy looks like in the 119th Congress. Panelists include Kassie Stagner, Professional Staff Member, House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Subcommittee on Technology Modernization, Reggie Darby, Professional Staff Member, House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Subcommittee on Technology Modernization, and Matthew Thomas, Health Policy Counsel, Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. |
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4:05-4:50 p.m. |
AI’s Impact on the Future of Health Technology Join Tara O’Donnell, MPH, Manager of Regulatory Affairs, pd̽»¨, as she moderates a panel discussing current innovations in artificial intelligence, policy initiatives, considerations and principles for appropriate oversight of AI, and the critical roles of HI professionals and other end-users. Panelists include Sam Meklir, Associate Director, Government Affairs, Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) and Angie Comfort, DBA, RHIA, CDIP, CCS, CCS-P, Fpd̽»¨, Assistant Vice President of Revenue Integrity at Montefiore Medical Center, and pd̽»¨ Board Member. |
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4:50-5:00 p.m. |
Closing Remarks |
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5:00-6:15 p.m. |
Reception Location: L’Enfant Ballroom Foyer/Solarium |
Tuesday, March 17, 2026 - Hill Day
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7:15-8 a.m. |
Breakfast Location: L’Enfant Ballroom Foyer/Solarium |
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8:30 a.m. |
Group Photo on US Capitol Steps If your schedule allows, please join us on the US House of Representatives steps of the east side of the Capitol (facing the Supreme Court) for a group photo |
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9 a.m.-3 p.m. |
Capitol Hill Day Meetings pd̽»¨ members meet with their members of Congress and congressional staff. |
"Advocacy Summit provides the unique experience to meet with your local congressional leaders and educate them on the importance of HI. It really makes an impact and elevates our profession."
- Jami Woebkenberg, pd̽»¨ Member and HI Advocate
Watch the video to learn more about Jami's Advocacy Summit experience!