Author: Katelyn Duggan

Chicago, IL — September 10, 2026 — The Sequoia Project, the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA), and HCPro today announced the launch of a new role-specific online training series designed to help healthcare organizations build workforce-wide compliance with the federal information blocking rule, which prohibits interference with the access, exchange, or use of electronic health information and applies to the daily behaviors of staff across every department that touches patient data.

Information blocking compliance has become a business-critical priority. With federal enforcement authority now active, nearly 2,200 complaints filed through the federal portal, and civil monetary penalties reaching up to $1 million per violation, health system leadership can no longer treat this as a regulatory footnote. Organizations that have trained, informed workforces are better positioned to respond to medical record requests correctly, avoid costly enforcement actions, and demonstrate the operational transparency that patients and partners increasingly expect.

“Information blocking compliance is not just a regulatory obligation; it is a cultural shift toward transparency and patient empowerment. Organizations need practical, scenario-based training that reaches every corner of the workforce. This collaboration brings together the policy, operational, and educational expertise needed to support that shift.” said Chantal Worzala, PhD, vice president, strategy and engagement at The Sequoia Project.

Role-Specific Training Built for the Entire Organization

Unlike general compliance training adapted from adjacent disciplines, this series was built from the ground up around the specific responsibilities, workflows, and risk exposures of each role. The four-course series include:

• Information Blocking Training for Compliance Staff
• Information Blocking Training for Release of Information Staff
• Information Blocking Training for Clinical Staff
• Information Blocking Training for Registration/Front Office Staff

The four courses are also available as a complete bundle for organizations seeking a coordinated, enterprise-wide approach to information blocking compliance.

“Health information professionals are on the front lines of ensuring that patients and caregivers have timely access to their electronic health information. This training series gives them the clarity, confidence, and tools they need to navigate complex requests, apply exceptions appropriately, and support organizational compliance.” said Jennifer Mueller, MBA, RHIA, SHIMSS, FACHE, FAHIMA, Senior Vice President of HI Career Advancement at AHIMA.

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“Information blocking touches nearly every role in a healthcare organization, from compliance and HIM to clinicians and front-office staff. Our goal was to create training that is not only accurate and aligned with federal regulations, but also engaging, practical, and easy to deploy at scale. We designed these courses to help organizations build a strong, sustainable team-based compliance foundation.” said Chelsea Brookes, Senior Director of eLearning at HCPro.

The courses are self-paced, online, and available immediately. Learn more about Information Blocking Training for Compliance Staff, Information Blocking Training for Release of Information Staff, and the Information Blocking Training Bundle. Organizations interested in enterprise bundle pricing should contact Carl Aiello, Vice President, Global Sales, AHIMA. Phone: (312) 497-1071, Carl.Aiello@AHIMA.org.

Chicago, IL — September 1, 2026 — The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) and the Association of Clinical Documentation Integrity Specialists (ACDIS), an HCPro professional community, are pleased to announce the release of the 2026 update to Guidelines for Achieving a Compliant Query Practice. The new edition replaces all previously published versions of the guidance.

The ACDIS/AHIMA guidelines serve as a foundational industry resource for clinical documentation integrity (CDI) and coding professionals developing, evaluating, and maintaining compliant query practices. The 2026 update reflects changes in healthcare delivery, technology, and documentation workflows while reinforcing the core principles that support clinical documentation integrity.

The updated guidance applies across inpatient, outpatient, ambulatory, and professional fee settings, with specific considerations for outpatient and ambulatory environments addressed throughout the document.

“As health information practices evolve and technology becomes more integrated into the documentation process, clear and trustworthy query practices are more important than ever,” said Rana Abuzir, RHIT, FACHDM, director of health information practice advancement at AHIMA and a member of the workgroup that updated the brief. “This guidance gives professionals a practical framework for protecting documentation integrity while preserving the provider’s independent clinical judgment. Whether a query comes from a person or technology, the standard for compliance should remain the same.”

Developed With Extensive Industry Feedback

The 2026 update follows the publication of a draft version in April 2026 and an extensive public comment period. The workgroup received feedback from nearly 200 individuals and groups, representing health systems, professional associations, committees, and other organizations that came together to review the draft and, in many cases, jointly submit comments.

The workgroup incorporated this feedback as part of the update process and received assistance with final review from subject matter experts across both AHIMA and ACDIS, including members of the ACDIS Advisory Board.

The resulting guidance reflects the evolving needs of CDI and coding professionals while reinforcing the fundamental principles of a compliant query practice.

Free Webinar to Explore the 2026 Update

To help professionals understand the changes and implications of the new edition, ACDIS and AHIMA will host a free informational webinar and panel discussion featuring members of the workgroup.

2026 Update to the ACDIS/AHIMA Guidelines for Achieving a Compliant Query Practice
September 30, 2026 | 1:00–2:00 p.m. Eastern

The panel will discuss the updated guidance, key changes, and considerations for applying the guidelines in today’s evolving healthcare environment.

The webinar offers 1 ACDIS CEU, which may be used toward renewal of the CCDS|CCDS-O credential or any AHIMA credential.

Register for the Webinar

Access the Updated Guidelines

The 2026 edition of Guidelines for Achieving a Compliant Query Practice is freely available on the ACDIS website. AHIMA members can also access the brief through the AHIMA Body of Knowledge.

Read the 2026 Guidelines

Chicago, IL — June 25, 2026 — The Association of Clinical Documentation Integrity Specialists (ACDIS) and HCPro today announced the launch of two new pediatric-focused training resources: PROPELPediatrics, a comprehensive ongoing education program, and the Pediatric CDI Online Boot Camp, a self-paced training course.

The U.S. pediatric hospital market is growing at 5.6% annually through 2030,* yet children’s hospital profitability hit a five-year low in 2024 and industry-wide denial rates have climbed to 41% of providers reporting more than one in ten claims denied.** For pediatric programs navigating NICU admissions, congenital conditions, and pediatric-specific diagnoses, insufficient or inaccurate clinical documentation carries a significant and measurable financial cost.

The Pediatric CDI Training Gap

As CDI programs expand and take on increasingly complex cases, the education resources available to both CDI and coding teams are traditionally focused on adult cases. Yet pediatric diagnoses present with distinct clinical indicators, diagnostic criteria, and documentation requirements that differ substantially from adult cases.

“As pediatric programs expand and take on increasingly complex cases, CDI and coding teams need education that reflects that complexity,” said Rebecca Hendren, Director of CDI and Revenue Integrity at HCPro. “PROPELPediatrics and the Pediatric CDI Online Boot Camp are designed to meet that need, providing specialized, practical training that helps teams capture the true clinical picture to improve accuracy and deliver better outcomes for pediatric patients.”

The Pediatric CDI Online Boot Camp is a self-paced, on-demand course covering pediatric pathophysiology, documentation best practices, and compliant query techniques. It is ideal for CDI specialists new to pediatrics or looking to formalize their knowledge.

PROPELPediatrics is a comprehensive ongoing education program that replaces ad hoc internal training with a structured, measurable curriculum delivered throughout the year. It includes:

• Six live virtual pediatric-focused education sessions
• Monthly regulatory updates with webinars
• Full access to the Pediatric CDI Online Boot Camp
• Exclusive access to our experts for compliance questions and guidance
• Pediatric learning assessments
• Performance reporting for team development visibility
• Optional custom education sessions

The program targets the highest-risk conditions unique to pediatrics, including NICU cases, congenital cardiac anomalies, and pediatric-specific denial patterns.

Both resources serve CDI specialists, physician advisors, inpatient and outpatient coders, and revenue integrity professionals. Group enrollment and enterprise licensing are available.

Availability

The Pediatric CDI Online Boot Camp is available now at hcmarketplace.com. PROPELPediatrics is available now at web.hcpro.com/propel-pediatrics. Organizations interested in group pricing, custom options, or a product demonstration may contact HCPro directly.

Chicago, IL, June 16, 2026 — HCPro, a leading provider of healthcare compliance, coding, and revenue cycle education, today announced a strategic partnership with ZHealth Publishing, a recognized authority in physician-led specialty coding resources. Together, the organizations will deliver an integrated education and reference solution designed to strengthen coding accuracy, consistency, and operational performance in interventional radiology (IR) and diagnostic and interventional cardiovascular services.

As healthcare organizations face increasing regulatory complexity and mounting reimbursement pressures in high-acuity specialties, the need for reliable, specialty-specific coding guidance has never been greater. This collaboration combines HCPro’s trusted educational infrastructure with ZHealth’s deep clinical coding expertise, including its flagship references and ZHealth KnowledgeBase, a robust library of more than 10,000 real-world coding Q&A entries developed and updated since 2013.

The solution will be delivered through HCPro’s Online Training Platform and DecisionHealth’s SelectCoder, creating a seamless experience from structured learning to point-of-need coding support. The Online Training Platform provides scalable eLearning and live virtual instruction, while SelectCoder delivers intuitive, real-time coding guidance within complex specialty workflows.

“By partnering with ZHealth and leveraging these best-in-class delivery platforms, we are providing coders and clinicians with the most practical, comprehensive, and accessible specialty coding education available today,” said Chelsea Brooks, senior director eLearning, of HCPro. “This collaboration supports faster onboarding, stronger coding consistency, and more confident decision-making in complex clinical scenarios.”

“This partnership combines physician-led specialty expertise with industry-leading online learning and coding referential platforms,” said Dr. David Zielske, MD, CIRCC, COC, CCVTC, CCC, CCS, RCC, founder and President of ZHealth Publishing. “Together with HCPro and DecisionHealth, we are helping healthcare organizations streamline operations and improve coding accuracy across hospitals, health systems, and physician practices.”

CHICAGO, IL, February 3, 2026,  HCPro, a leading provider of healthcare education and regulatory solutions, today announced its partnership with the National Cooperative of Health Networks Association (NCHN), reinforcing HCPro’s commitment to supporting rural and community healthcare organizations through practical, role-based workforce education.

As a partner of NCHN, HCPro will contribute expertise and resources to help rural health leaders address ongoing workforce challenges, including regulatory complexity, staffing constraints, and the need for consistent, high-quality training across clinical and revenue cycle teams.

“Rural and community hospitals face unique operational and financial pressures, often with limited resources,” said Dave Cella, President of HCPro and CEO of AHIMA. “Joining NCHN reflects our commitment to standing alongside rural health leaders and providing education that helps their teams navigate complexity, strengthen compliance, and sustain access to care in their communities.”

Rural healthcare organizations must balance increasing regulatory demands with the realities of lean teams and evolving reimbursement models. HCPro’s education and professional development solutions are designed to be flexible, scalable, and practical, supporting continuous learning without disrupting day-to-day operations.

“HCPro brings deep expertise in healthcare education and workforce development that aligns closely with the needs of our members,” said Linda Weiss, Executive Director of NCHN. “Their commitment to practical, role-based learning supports our mission to support & strengthen health networks serving rural and underserved communities by  ensuring our members have access to the resources they need to thrive.”

By investing in education and workforce development, rural and community hospitals can improve documentation and coding accuracy, reduce compliance risk, strengthen collaboration across teams, and support long-term organizational sustainability helping to ensure continued access to high-quality care for the communities they serve.

CHICAGO, IL — January 15, 2026 — As the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announces a historic $50 billion investment through its Rural Health Transformation Program, HCPro, a leading provider of healthcare regulatory education, compliance guidance, and performance improvement solutions, today reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) and rural health systems nationwide. Through PROPELMedicare for Critical Access Hospitals (PROPELMedicare for CAHs) its established training, compliance, and performance solution, HCPro is well positioned to help rural providers operationalize this initiative as it moves from planning to execution.

The CMS initiative represents one of the largest federal investments ever directed toward rural healthcare, providing states with significant funding to modernize care delivery, strengthen the workforce, expand access, and improve long-term operational sustainability. As states and hospitals transition from strategy development to implementation, rural leaders face increasing pressure to execute new care models while maintaining compliance, protecting reimbursement, and supporting a limited workforce.

“The federal government is making a significant commitment to improving health outcomes in rural communities, including expanded access to preventive and behavioral health services,” said Teri Rice, RN, MSN, MHA, MBA, CHC, Regulatory Specialist at HCPro. “PROPELMedicare for CAHs helps hospitals stay current with evolving Medicare regulations and billing requirements, particularly as new programs and services are introduced, so they can focus less on regulatory complexity and more on delivering care to their communities.”

“This level of federal investment represents a significant resource for rural healthcare,” said Dave Cella, President of HCPro and Chief Executive Officer of AHIMA. “But funding alone doesn’t guarantee impact. Rural hospitals need practical, execution-ready support to strengthen operations, protect reimbursement, and meet growing regulatory and performance expectations as implementation begins.”

As states invest CMS funding into workforce training, technology modernization, care coordination, and operational efficiency, PROPELMedicare for CAHs, an offering HCPro has long provided to rural hospitals, enables organizations to:

• Strengthen revenue integrity amid new care models and payment reforms
• Reduce compliance risk related to Medicare reimbursement, audits, and regulatory change
• Support cross-trained staff with timely education and practical guidance
• Operationalize modernization efforts without adding administrative burden

“Rural hospitals are being asked to modernize, innovate, and expand access while continuing to operate with limited resources,” Cella added. “PROPELMedicare for CAHs acts as an extension of their teams, providing trusted expertise and day-to-day support that helps leaders move forward with confidence.”

Chicago, Ill. – January 6, 2025– HCPro is proud to announce the official launch of its groundbreaking Provider Education Microlearning Series, set to debut on January 6, 2025. This innovative series is designed to deliver essential training on clinical documentation integrity (CDI), coding, and revenue cycle management to healthcare providers in a focused and convenient format. 

Authored by esteemed experts Laurie Prescott, RN, MSN, CCDS, CCDS-O, CDIP, CRC, and Dr. James Manz, MD, FAAOS, CCDS-O, from Mayo Clinic, the series comprises over 30 state-of-the-art microlearning modules that cover critical topics for both inpatient and outpatient providers.  

“Our Provider Education Microlearning Series is a game-changer for healthcare professionals,” said Chelsea Brookes, Director of eLearning at HCPro, LLC. “By providing targeted, bite-sized training, we empower providers to enhance their documentation skills, ultimately leading to improved quality scores and reduced denials.” 

The microlearning experience is enhanced with exclusive features designed to boost provider engagement and achieve meaningful results: 

• Downloadable Tip Sheets: Providers will have access to quick-reference takeaways for effective implementation of learned concepts. 

• Physician-to-Physician Guidance: Engaging audio vignettes featuring Dr. James Manz will help providers understand the rationale behind the education. 

• Evaluation Questions: Strategically placed within each module, these questions allow providers to earn Continuing Medical Education (CME) credits during the learning process, eliminating the need for a time-consuming final exam. 

• ACDIS Certificate of Documentation Integrity: Participants can earn a certificate of completion, demonstrating their competence in documentation. 

• Continuing Education Credits: The series offers Category 1 CMEs, ANCC, CCDS, NAHRI, and AHIMA credits. 

 

The Provider Education Microlearning Series aims to teach providers the importance of proper documentation, helping to reduce the number of queries sent to them, improve quality scores, and ultimately minimize denials. 

For more information about the Provider Education Microlearning Series and to register, please visit https://hcmarketplace.com/provider-ed-microlearning.  

CHICAGO, IL. OCTOBER 3, 2023

The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) today announced that it acquired HCPro and its associated brands from Simplify Compliance. HCPro is an industry leader in integrated information, education, training, and consulting products and services in healthcare compliance and revenue cycle management. The acquisition broadens the reach of both organizations.

“The AHIMA Board has been strategically seeking ways to broaden our impact. This acquisition truly complements our vision as both AHIMA and HCPro are focused on improving healthcare through knowledge,” said AHIMA President/Chair of the Board Jennifer Mueller, MBA, RHIA, SHIMSS, FACHE, FAHIMA. “Adding HCPro to the AHIMA family deepens our expertise, gives us greater agility, and enables us to bring new solutions and services to the healthcare market more quickly.”

AHIMA will operate HCPro as a for-profit, wholly-owned subsidiary, enabling the organization to remain focused on caring for its clients.

“We are thrilled to join the AHIMA family. Our common passion to equip healthcare professionals with information they need to succeed makes us a great fit and, with little overlap in customers, we can truly expand what we offer to our current clients,” said President of HCPro Dave Cella. “The healthcare industry is constantly changing, and our complementary areas of expertise will benefit both HCPro clients and AHIMA members.”

HCPro provides education solutions designed to help healthcare organizations deliver consistent training, achieve compliance, and maximize efficiencies across the revenue cycle, resulting in measurable clinical, quality, and financial improvements. The HCPro family of brands includes DecisionHealth, Association for Clinical Documentation Integrity Specialists (ACDIS), National Association for Healthcare Revenue Integrity (NAHRI), and the Association of Home Care Coding & Compliance (AHCC).

Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

About AHIMA
AHIMA is a global nonprofit association of health information (HI) professionals with more than 67,000 members and more than 100,000 credentials in the field. The AHIMA mission of empowering people to impact health® drives our members and credentialed HI professionals to ensure that health information is accurate, complete, and available to patients and providers. Our leaders work at the intersection of healthcare, technology, and business and are found in data integrity and information privacy job functions worldwide.