From Conversations to Change: The Work of Advocacy

Each spring, the AHIMA Advocacy Summit brings health information (HI) professionals from across the country to Washington, D.C. This year, 173 attendees representing 42 states—and the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico—met with congressional offices to share what they see on the ground every day and to advocate for policies that move our field forward. These conversations matter. And so do the people who are having them.

Health information professionals have a deep understanding of how data flows through the healthcare system. That perspective is essential when it comes to shaping federal policies around patient identification, the use of artificial intelligence (AI), privacy protections, and more. The AHIMA Advocacy Summit helps elevate these voices at the national level by providing a structured, impactful space to engage with policymakers.

In 2025, attendees focused on two key policy priority areas. First, they advocated for the reintroduction of the MATCH IT Act (H.R. 2002), which seeks to improve patient identification and matching—a challenge that impacts patient safety and can lead to claims denials across care settings. Second, they supported the introduction of legislation concerning the use of administrative AI and its effect on the workforce. Both issues reflect larger conversations happening across healthcare and underscore the need for thoughtful, experienced input from those who deeply understand how data supports care.

The Summit also offered policy briefings on timely topics such as social determinants of health, electronic prior authorization, and patient privacy. These sessions help equip AHIMA members with the knowledge and language they need to contribute meaningfully to policy discussions long after they return home.

But advocacy doesn’t start or end with a one-time visit to Capitol Hill. It is part of our professional responsibility to speak up for federal policies that improve patient care, reduce administrative burden, and strengthen our systems. Whether you’re serving on an AHIMA council or advisory group, contributing to a comment letter, or having a quiet conversation with a colleague about the importance of accurate documentation, you are an advocate.

AHIMA advocacy efforts rely on this type of steady, collective engagement from our members. We are grateful to those who traveled to Washington and to those who continue to show up in other meaningful ways throughout the year. Your contributions shape how the profession is recognized, respected, and celebrated.

Thank you for all that you do to support this important work.

Lauren Riplinger, JD, is Chief Public Policy and Impact Officer at AHIMA.