Margaritaville Resort Orlando · Kissimmee, FL · February 21–24, 2027
Where sites, payers, and sponsors come together to master the keys to a compliant research and billing infrastructure — and have a little fun doing it.
Building on the incredible success of our 20th anniversary in New Orleans, we're thrilled to bring you the 21st annual summit at the iconic Margaritaville Resort Orlando — a fun, relaxed setting to learn, connect, and recharge.
"Billing compliance sits at the intersection of research integrity, financial performance, and regulatory risk. Our job is to make it simple, actionable, and connected."
"We built this summit to be the trusted home for billing compliance professionals. 21 years in, the community is what makes it exceptional — we're just curating the room."
A first look at the 2027 program. More faculty and the full agenda to be announced.
Where peers gather to share, learn, and innovate — solving real problems in a trusted community.
Compliance strategies grounded in industry benchmarks — things you can actually take back to Monday morning.
Structured roundtables, topic lounges, mentor matching for first-timers, and our new AI matchmaking app.
Latest CMS, Medicare, and coverage updates delivered by the practitioners in the room every year.
Informed by attendee feedback, industry trends, and 20 years of programming expertise.
18 confirmed so far, with more added weekly. Every session is led by practitioners doing this work inside health systems, cancer centers and sponsors.
CEO
Kelly Willenberg & Associates
Summit Founder & Chairperson
Kelly Willenberg & Associates
Intro to Coverage Analysis: Crash Course
Kelly Willenberg & Associates
Intro to Coverage Analysis: Crash Course
Associate Vice President, Office of Research Administration
Cancer Treatment Centers of America
CAR-T and Other Complex Billing Compliance: Where Risk, Regulation, and Revenue Collide
Independent Contractor
Kelly Willenberg & Associates
CAR-T and Other Complex Billing Compliance: Where Risk, Regulation, and Revenue Collide
Principal
Denise Quint, LLC
CAR-T and Other Complex Billing Compliance: Where Risk, Regulation, and Revenue Collide
Associate Director, Oncology Research
Atrium Health, Levine Cancer Institute
Compliance by Design: Leveraging CTMS, EMR, and AI for Accurate Research Billing
Director, Clinical Research
Oklahoma State University
Compliance by Design: Leveraging CTMS, EMR, and AI for Accurate Research Billing
Research Fellow, Blackfriars Hall
University of Oxford
25 Years In: Lessons Learned, Gaps Remaining and the Road Ahead
Faculty of Law
University of Oxford
25 Years In: Lessons Learned, Gaps Remaining and the Road Ahead
Research Compliance Officer
Children's Hospital Colorado
Strong Starts: Strategies and Systems for Efficient and Effective Study Start-Up
Onvida Health
Compliance by Design: Leveraging CTMS, EMR, and AI for Accurate Research Billing
Research Compliance Manager
Tampa General Hospital
The Inpatient Billing Trap: Untangling Clinical Research Chaos
Research Billing Compliance
UT Southwestern Medical Center
Clinical Research Billing Review: Operationalizing Compliance
Compliance Audit Advisor Sr.
Tampa General Hospital
Practical AI Use: Risk Assessments to Final Reports
Director of Business Development
Mercy Research
Deep Dive into LCDs and NCDs: Try Not to Drown
Research Billing Specialist
OhioHealth
Charge Review Best Practices
Director, Billing Compliance
University of Oklahoma Health Campus
Charge Review Best Practices
General Counsel
August Bioservices, LLC
Acceptable Payment Terms and the Use of Playbooks in Contracts
Additional keynotes from CMS and Medicare contractor leadership are being finalized and will be announced once confirmed.
Every session is shaped by attendee feedback from 20 years of summits — nothing is there by accident.
Senior practitioners driving real conversations on regulatory trends and career development.
Interactive, small-group environments for deep skill-building on specific compliance challenges.
Special programming and mentor assignments to ensure every new attendee has a guide.
AI, automation, and the tech shaping the next decade of clinical research operations.
Opening-night party on Monday, February 22, where the year's industry relationships get cemented over cocktails, music, and coastal vibes.
Four days, February 21 to 24. Sessions and speakers are added as they are confirmed, so check back as the program fills in. The Sunday seminar is a separately priced pre-conference session and is not included in a summit pass.
A full-day crash course in coverage analysis fundamentals, with a boxed lunch included. Built for professionals new to the discipline and for teams standardizing their approach.
Curious about CAR-T and other advanced cell therapies but tired of jargon-filled presentations that leave you with more questions than answers? This crash course breaks down the entire journey. We start at the cellular level, exploring how these living drugs are developed and why they are transforming treatment. From there we look at key considerations in clinical care, including patient workflows, treatment protocols, and operational planning. Finally we tackle coding, billing, and reimbursement, so you can translate innovative science into sustainable practice.
A working session on designing billing accuracy into your systems rather than auditing for it after the fact. Covers CTMS and EMR integration points, where AI is genuinely useful today, and how to build controls that hold up under review.
Opening-night party where the year's industry relationships get cemented over cocktails, music, and coastal vibes.
Join this keynote session with Medical Directors from Medicare Contractor Jurisdictions as they share insights on the intricacies of clinical trial billing. Analyze new hurdles with CMS and gain a deeper knowledge of overcoming challenges in billing compliance. Hear from a front-line compliance officer at a Medicare Contractor and their views on compliance.
When research participants are admitted, billing becomes a maze of bundled payments, unclear documentation, and competing coverage rules. This session explores real-world inpatient dilemmas and the operational breakdowns that drive errors. Attendees will gain actionable tools to improve coordination, charge capture, and compliance.
Connect, refresh, and energize.
Achieving end-to-end research billing compliance is a top institutional priority, and getting there has been a multi-year operational journey. This session provides a candid review of how UT Southwestern Medical Center built and operationalized its Hospital Research Revenue Cycle function, the structural and technical challenges encountered along the way, and the processes developed to sustain billing compliance at scale.
Inefficiencies in study start-up delay activation, increase administrative burden, and introduce compliance risk. This session presents an integrated institutional model designed to streamline study initiation by aligning regulatory review, operational workflows, and stakeholder engagement from the outset. Participants will learn how early coordination of study components reduces rework and accelerates timelines.
A focused overview of essential audit and compliance operations. Participants will learn how to plan and scope audits, prepare for fieldwork, and incorporate regulatory and internal policy research into their approach. The session covers core risk assessment techniques and demonstrates how to use OIG Work Plan priorities, enforcement trends, and internal referrals to inform audit selection and methodology. Operational skills are emphasized through practical guidance on project management, meeting facilitation, and effective report writing.
Connect, refresh, and energize.
By the end of this session you will be able to differentiate between NCDs and LCDs and understand their implications for clinical research. Explore regional variations in Medicare coverage policies that affect research billing and trial operations.
This session is designed to ensure you stay ahead of the curve and fully equipped to navigate the transitional coverage landscape. Gain a comprehensive understanding of the latest trends and developments with a Medicare Contractor.
Connect, refresh, and energize.
A clear overview of research billing compliance, focusing on accurate patient encounter tracking, proper enrollment and flagging, and the role of a 100% bill hold in ensuring line-by-line charge review. Attendees will learn how to distinguish insurance-billable from study-billable charges using the Medicare Coverage Analysis or CTMS, including correct use of CPT codes, investigational device and drug indicators, and required modifiers. The session also covers the risks of errors such as double billing under the False Claims Act and the steps for correcting and routing inaccurate charges.
This session explores how clear, well-structured payment terms and contract playbooks strengthen financial integrity in clinical trials while accelerating study startup and execution. Participants will learn how standardized clauses, milestone-based payment frameworks, and negotiation guardrails reduce ambiguity, protect compliance, and improve site performance.
Connect, refresh, and energize.
A reflection on our progress after two decades and the persistent challenges that remain. Key milestones that shaped billing integrity over 25 years, the gaps still open today, and where automation and payer engagement head next.
Agenda as of August 19, 2026 and subject to change. Sessions marked to be announced are still open.
Our community represents the full ecosystem of clinical research billing and compliance.
Verbatim from attendees of the 20th Summit, published with their permission.
I think this year's presentations were the best yet. They really broke down the information in simple terms. This is maybe my 3rd or 4th time here and it gets better every year.
The CAR-T session was so great to see and learn. I learned so much in the three days.
The CAR-T presentation provided a plethora of information that is actionable. I took away some action items for my site.
Was very informative and so much fun to attend and witness. All of the speakers were great.
A great flow between sessions and content. It brought up a great new idea to bring back to my team and continue to grow.
AI in Action was very interesting and informative. With Tamara Syrek Jensen, it felt like we were getting an inside scoop.
Very interesting content. CAR-T was very informative and clarified a lot of issues we were having.
The highlight was networking and seeing colleagues. Would prefer to go back to Margaritaville.
Speaking with Kelly, she always makes herself available.
Great information and great topics. Medicare Advantage was my favourite, because it is a tricky topic.
Margaritaville Resort Orlando · 8000 Fins Up Circle, Kissimmee, FL 34747
A Caribbean-inspired escape in the heart of Florida. 265 guest rooms with private balconies, lagoon pools, and easy access to Walt Disney World, Universal, and SeaWorld.
Reach the people who own research billing compliance at academic medical centers, health systems and cancer centers. Packages are being reserved now for February 2027.
Your all-access pass to maximize connections, meetings, and opportunities — all from the palm of your hand. Networking, redefined.
Our sponsors reach 230+ decision-makers across clinical research billing, compliance, and operations. Here's how to get started:
Browse benefits, pricing, and build a custom package with our interactive prospectus. Mix and match speaking slots, passes, exhibits, branding — whatever fits your 2027 goals.
View Interactive ProspectusMeet with Frank Fernandez to walk through your selected package, confirm positioning, and lock in your 2027 sponsorship agreement.
Book a Call with FrankSummit passes cover February 22 to 24, with the Sunday seminar available as a checkout add-on. Super Early Bird rates end 10/23/2026. Group discounts available for teams of 3+.
A full-day pre-conference seminar, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, boxed lunch included. Led by Kelly Willenberg & Associates faculty and built for professionals new to coverage analysis and for teams standardizing their approach.
Tick the box at checkout when you register above and the seminar is $595, a $100 saving. Attending Sunday only is $695.
Group rates available — email arianne@momentumevents.com · Cancellation & transfer policy
The Compliance Certification Board (CCB)® and AAPC offer credits for this event. SOCRA CCRP recertification credits available via Declaration Form + certificate of attendance. CEU hours awarded based on individual attendance records. Granting of prior approval does not constitute endorsement by the issuing bodies of this event content or the event sponsor.
97% of past attendees would recommend this event to a friend or colleague. You'll leave with notes, new contacts, and next steps. Review our pricing packages which are built to make attendance achievable across academic, non-profit, and corporate teams.
Business executives across clinical research, billing, compliance, trials offices, finance, contracts, coverage analysis, grants management, IRBs, CROs, sponsors, and legal/regulatory teams. See the full list in the "Who Attends" section above.
No, it is a separate ticket, but you can add it in the same transaction. Summit passes cover February 22 to 24. When you register, tick the Sunday seminar box at checkout and it is $595, a $100 saving on the $695 standalone rate. A boxed lunch is included either way. If you only want the Sunday seminar, buy it on its own below.
Add the Sunday Seminar – $695Yes — bring your department, leadership team, or your whole company. Group registration is easy and includes custom discounts. Email arianne@momentumevents.com to secure the best group rate.
We've rebuilt our sponsorship experience so you can see exactly what you're getting. Browse the interactive prospectus to mix and match speaking slots, passes, exhibit space, branding, and hospitality — then schedule a call with Frank to finalize.
View Interactive Prospectus Schedule with FrankYes — we're actively accepting speaker proposals for the 2027 summit. Review available topic tracks and submit your proposal online. Speakers receive complimentary registration, industry recognition, and access to speaker-only networking.
Submit a Speaker ProposalStructured roundtables, topic lounges, networking receptions, and our new AI-matchmaking mobile app make connecting natural. Bring your curiosity — we'll handle the rest.
