HEALTHCON Regional 2026 brings learning, innovation, and connection to seattle. Healthcare business professionals from across the country gathered at the Hyatt Regency Lake Washington in Renton, Wash., Oct. 5-7, for AAPC's HEALTHCON Regional 2026. The three-day hybrid conference delivered more than 40 education sessions, networking opportunities, and discussions on the rapidly evolving healthcare revenue cycle landscape. Designed for coders, billers, auditors, compliance professionals, educators, and clinical documentation specialists, the conference focused on practical strategies attendees can immediately apply to improve accuracy, efficiency, compliance, and financial performance. Throughout the event, speakers examined emerging technologies, regulatory developments, artificial intelligence (AI), leadership strategies, and best practices across the revenue cycle. Setting the stage for the future. The conference opened with a welcome address from Raemarie Jimenez, CPC, CIC, CPB, CPMA, CPPM, CDEO, CANPC, CRHC, CCS, AAPC Approved Instructor, AAPC president of membership and content, who provided attendees with updates on AAPC initiatives and explored trends shaping the healthcare business profession. Topics included workforce challenges, technology adoption, regulatory pressures, and the growing role of AI and automation in revenue cycle operations. Jimenez, who is passionate about the possibilities of AI, said, "This is our opportunity to build those efficiencies and find a better tool and technology, rather than just replicating a broken process that we know does not work." Ultimately, Jimenez said, "We want to automate the predictable and elevate the human." A popular E/M Panel general session followed, where Jaci Kipreos, COC, CPC, CDEO, CPMA, CRC, CPC-I, CEMC; Samuel Church, MD, CPC, CRC, CPC-I; Leslie Prellwitz, director, CPT(R) Content Management & Development with the American Medical Association (AMA); and Jimenez led a discussion on evaluation and management (E/M) coding practices and concerns. It was structured as an interactive session that took attendees through real documentation examples from primary care settings and then asked them to level each case through a live online poll. Panel members then offered their insight into the proper E/M leveling for each case, illustrating the coding, auditing, and clinical perspective. AI takes center stage. One of the conference's most prominent themes was the continued integration of AI into healthcare operations. The general session "AI in Action Across the Revenue Cycle" brought together industry leaders to discuss how organizations are evaluating, implementing, and measuring AI solutions within revenue cycle environments. Panelists Corella Lumpkins, CPC, CPC-M, CPCO, CDEO, CPB, CPMA, CPPM, CRC, CVBA, CPC-I, CEMC, CCS, CCS-P, CHC; Rhonda Buckholtz, CPC, CPC-M, CDEO, CPMA, CRC, CGSC, COPC, AAPC Approved Instructor; Shannon Cameron, MBA, MHIM, CPC; and Zach Hochstetler, CPC, explored operational impacts, workforce considerations, and lessons learned from AI adoption efforts. Additional sessions examined AI from different perspectives. During "Breaking Barriers: Strategic AI Adoption in Healthcare Revenue Cycle Management," Verna Pregnon, COC, CPC, CIRCC, CPC-I, CCC, addressed challenges such as implementation costs, staff resistance, integration issues, and change management. Speakers throughout the conference emphasized balancing technological innovation with sound governance, accountability, and compliance practices. Colleen Gianatasio, CPC, CPCO, CPC-P, CDEO, CPMA, CPPM, CRC, CPC-I; Heather Greene, CPC, CDEI, CDEO, CIC, CPMA, CRC, RCMS, AAPC Approved Instructor; Leonta Williams, CPC, CPCO, CRC, CVBA, CEMC, CHONC; and Marianne Durling, MHA, RHIA, CPC, CCS, CDIP, CPCO, CDEI, CIC, AAPC Approved Instructor, led the general session "Diagnosis Coding Insights from the Experts." Although the discussion mainly focused on the rules surrounding diagnosis coding for professional fee coding, risk adjustment coding, and facility coding, the panel also touched on the increased use and oversight of AI, guidelines versus payer policies, what to do when disagreeing with a provider, queries, pulling notes forward, principal diagnosis, rule-out diagnoses, and much more. Diverse Education Tracks Meet Industry Needs Attendees selected from multiple concurrent breakout sessions covering coding, compliance, auditing, leadership, and revenue cycle management. Coding-focused presentations addressed topics such as CPT(R) code development, inpatient coding career pathways, obstetrics coding, infusion services, vascular procedures, psychotherapy documentation, and risk adjustment documentation. Speakers emphasized critical thinking, documentation integrity, and coding defensibility in an increasingly complex healthcare environment. Compliance professionals explored practical topics including Stark Law and Anti-Kickback Statute risks, HIPAA breach prevention, effective compliance programs, and fraud, waste, and abuse. Many sessions incorporated real-world scenarios to help attendees identify risks and strengthen organizational safeguards. Leadership and organizational development also received significant attention. Sessions examined strengths-based leadership approaches, workplace communication, burnout prevention, and strategies for fostering healthier and more resilient teams. Focus on revenue integrity and value-based care. Several presentations highlighted the interconnected nature of documentation, coding, reimbursement, and patient outcomes. Speakers discussed revenue integrity principles, key performance indicators, front-end revenue cycle processes, compliant telehealth programs, and the growing importance of social determinants of health (SDOH) in value-based care models. Attendees learned how accurate documentation and coding influence not only reimbursement but also quality reporting, care planning, and patient outcomes. [ Other sessions explored how healthcare organizations can strengthen documentation practices to support risk adjustment programs, audit readiness, and value-based care initiatives. Building connections beyond the classroom. In addition to education sessions, HEALTHCON Regional provided numerous opportunities for attendees to connect with peers, exhibitors, and industry experts. Conference activities included exhibitor lunches, a welcome reception, happy hour networking, Trivia Night, and The Jet Set Social. These events encouraged attendees to exchange ideas, expand professional networks, and discuss common challenges facing healthcare business professionals. The conference's smaller regional format also allowed attendees greater access to speakers and more opportunities for meaningful conversations and peer-to-peer learning. As emphasized throughout the event, some of the most valuable lessons emerged not only during presentations but also through the relationships and discussions cultivated between sessions. Looking ahead. By the close of HEALTHCON Regional 2026, participants had earned continuing education units while gaining practical knowledge on topics ranging from AI and compliance to coding accuracy and leadership development. The conference reinforced the critical role healthcare business professionals play in ensuring accurate documentation, compliant operations, and financial sustainability across the healthcare continuum. As healthcare continues to evolve, HEALTHCON Regional demonstrated AAPC's commitment to equipping members with the tools, insights, and professional connections needed to navigate change and advance the business of healthcare. Immediately following this conference is AUDITCON, Oct. 8-9, at the same venue.

AAPC, the healthcare industry's leading authority on medical coding, has introduced Codie, an AI-powered coding assistant. The tool embeds AAPC's proprietary medical coding content and expert-validated resources directly into coding professionals' workflows through Codify by AAPC. Codie helps medical coders research complex scenarios, validate decisions, and navigate documentation ambiguity. Each answer links back to its source in Codify by AAPC, providing clear paths to underlying guidance. The assistant addresses growing complexity in medical coding as CPT, ICD-10-CM, HCPCS Level II, payer policies, and documentation requirements continue to evolve. Codie will be generally available on 25 August 2026 as an add-on for Codify by AAPC Pro Fee Coder subscribers. AAPC is the United States' largest training and credentialing organisation for healthcare business professionals.