Flashback & Future Forward: Lessons from the Tremendously Successful 2025 Summit

As we eagerly anticipate our momentous 20th Anniversary Clinical Research Billing Compliance Summit in New Orleans, we’re taking a moment to reflect on the incredible success of our most recent gathering: the Clinical Research Billing Compliance Summit 2025, held in the vibrant city of Orlando, FL, from February 23-25, 2025.

The 2025 summit truly exceeded expectations. It drew over 230 industry executives from sites, payers, CROs, and sponsors, showcasing a diverse and engaged community committed to advancing clinical research billing compliance. The event achieved outstanding results across every key metric, with an impressive 97% of attendees rating their overall experience as "excellent". This overwhelming positive feedback underscores the summit's proven ability to deliver exceptional value.

Attendees consistently praised the summit for its core areas of value, which include:

• Practical, implementable compliance strategies based on expert advice.
• Rich networking opportunities that fostered connections among peers and experts.
• Access to the latest regulatory updates and best practices.
• Innovative solutions to common challenges faced in the complex areas of clinical research billing, finance, and budgeting.

Your Feedback is Our Blueprint for 2026

But the success of 2025 wasn't just a celebration; it was a powerful roadmap. Your valuable feedback from the 2025 summit is directly shaping the agenda for our upcoming 20th Anniversary Summit in New Orleans. We heard your calls for more in-depth, hands-on, and solutions-focused content, signaling a maturation in the field where attendees seek not just to understand problems, but to effectively fix and prevent them.

Based on your input, the 2026 agenda will feature an enhanced program with a strategic shift towards even more interactive workshops and case studies. You asked for deep dives into critical areas, and we're delivering. Expect expanded coverage and dedicated sessions on:

• Advanced Coverage Analysis (CA): Including comprehensive "nitty gritty" sessions on how to build a Coverage Analysis, as well as exploring complex, real-world scenarios that deviate from the standard. We'll continue to prioritize Medicare Coverage Analysis (MCA), especially in complex areas like oncology trials, discussing its major implications.
• Coding and Claims Review: With a strong emphasis on proper coding and coverage analysis and managing back-end billing compliance, including sponsor offers, routine costs, and charge/claims review. There will be more focused discussions on claims review and coding.
• Auditing and Monitoring: Equipping you with proactive compliance measures and practical "cheat sheets" for audit readiness, moving towards preventing issues before external audits occur.
• Revenue Optimization & Financial Management: Including strategies for effective sponsor negotiations to secure coverage for costs, confidently request justifiable fees, and identify overlooked revenue. We'll also delve into more in-depth coverage of device budgeting.
• Technology & Operational Efficiency: With a focus on how to utilize technology and tools to simplify the billing compliance process. This includes optimizing CTMS/EHR (like Epic and OnCore) for billing grid integration and automated charge segregation, and exploring the exciting applications of AI in research billing.
• Specialized and Emerging Topics: Such as investigational device coverage analysis, contracting, and billing, the nuances of pediatric trials, strategies for subject injury and sponsor liability, and insights into commercial and Medicare Advantage payer policies regarding clinical trial pre-authorization. Discussions about changing government regulations and the complexities of imaging in research will also be featured.

Looking Forward to New Orleans in 2026!

Our goal for the 20th Anniversary Summit is to solidify its position as a highly specialized, solution-oriented, and interactive training and problem-solving hub. We're committed to demonstrating how robust compliance directly contributes to financial sustainability and stronger partnerships within the clinical research ecosystem.

Stay tuned for the full 20th Anniversary agenda reveal, where you'll see how your feedback has transformed our program into the most comprehensive and impactful summit yet. We eagerly anticipate welcoming you to New Orleans for what promises to be an unforgettable 20th anniversary milestone event, filled with unparalleled learning, networking, and celebration!