CHIA Monthly Digest - April Edition
Wednesday, April 1, 2026
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About the CHIA Monthly Digest
The Digest is a member-friendly, all-inclusive digital communication tool designed around the LEAD values that bring important topics to your email box every month. Find focused subject matter at your fingertips and accessible links to plan your CHIA and AHIMA activities. The Snapshot provides an outline of the stories, like a table of contents, so the reader can find information quickly.
CHIA - Always Connecting the California Health Information Community
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The Snapshot
Scroll to the corresponding section for more detail.
L
EADERSHIP:
President’s Message Freida’s Focus; Annual Meeting; HIP Week; CALLING all Volunteers to Sign-Up
EDUCATION:
NEW ROI Academy; CHIACON26 June 7-10 REGISTRATION OPEN; Clinical Coding Symposium; Upcoming Community Chats
ADVOCACY:
Advocacy Action Alert
DISCOVERY:
Component Group Corner –Schedule and How to Join; Emerging Professional (Student) Get BOGO Membership; FAME Scholarships
- Apply Now
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Freida’s Focus: President’s Message
Call for Volunteers, Exciting Upcoming Events, and HIP Week. Stay Engaged, Stay Empowered.
Click on the Image and Play to hear directly from Freida
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CHIA Annual Member Meeting and AHIMA Update
Join us Friday, May 29, 2026, 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Join California’s health information community for CHIA's Annual Business Meeting and this must-attend virtual event! Gain insider insights as CHIA’s 2025-26 President, Freida Smith shares key accomplishments and milestones for 2025-26.
Plus, the AHIMA Report to the CAs is designed to convey key initiatives and updates from AHIMA delivered by a combination of AHIMA executive leaders and Board liaisons. This year's content will focus on how AHIMA is addressing critical issues impacting members and progress toward resolution.
This is your opportunity to stay engaged, informed, and connected with the future of health information in California—from wherever you are!
Approved for 1 CEU | Domain: Management and Leadership
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Celebrate HIP Week, April 20-24, 2026
CHIA Community Chat Dedicated to Health Information Professionals | Friday, April 24th, 2026 | 12:00 pm
Join us for engaging discussion featuring industry experts as we explore, learn, and connect with professionals passionate about health information trends, data integrity and quality, and staying relevant for the future. Register now, bring a friend, and celebrate with us California HI week.
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CHIA LEAD
ership Begins with Dedicated Volunteers
President-elect Kamar Braish, MS, RHIA Wants Members to Sign Up Now...Do Your Part
Earn up to 5 CEUs per 2-year CEU cycle for your personal volunteer efforts. It’s time to choose where you want to make a difference. If you haven’t signed up for your Volunteer Workgroups of choice, DO IT NOW. CHIA’s strength is directly related to member-leader passion for igniting initiatives that benefit the California health information (HI) community.
Volunteerism “CHIA-style” incorporates member expertise and enthusiasm. Contribute your time and elevate your personal career through
LE
AD
– Leadership,
Education,
Advocacy and
Discovery
!
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Leadership Opportunity: 2026 Nominating Committee
Members interested in serving in a leadership capacity are encouraged to apply for the 2026 CHIA Nominating Committee. This committee plays a critical role in identifying and elevating future CHIA leaders. To be considered, volunteers must complete and submit the Nominating Committee application by March 31.
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CHIACON26 Registration Is Open! Early Bird Pricing Ends on April 29
Join California’s largest health information education event of the year
Your Convention Committee is hard at work planning for CHIACON26. It’s not too soon to make travel arrangements and set aside June 7-10 for another exciting Convention and Exhibit back in Northern California. During three impactful days, attendees engage with inspiring leaders, presenters, industry partners and health information professionals coming together for innovative education and meaningful connections through LEAD - leadership, education, advocacy , and discovery
..
Registration is officially open for CHIACON. Earn valuable CEUs, meet your peers, and engage with California’s largest health information network and education event of the year.
This is your opportunity to stay current on industry trends, gain practical insights, and strengthen your professional connections with health information leaders from across the state.
Don’t wait, secure your spot and start planning your CHIACON experience today.
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Participate in the CHIAxchange and Save:
CHIA is offering one complimentary night stay (standard
room) at Hyatt Regency San Francisco Airport (for
either Saturday, June 6, or Sunday, June 7), and a $50 gift card in
appreciation for your participation in the CHIAxchange.
This is our way of thanking you for your time and engagement.
Additionally, raffle prizes will
be drawn at the conclusion of the CHIA xchange!
CHIAxchange offers a fun and relaxed speed-meeting format, giving you the chance to meet with several potential vendors in a quiet, engaging setting. This is a unique opportunity to connect with participating vendors who can help you tackle everyday challenges in release of information, coding, compliance, revenue cycle, and more.
Don't miss out on this great chance to make valuable connections and find solutions that will make a real difference. We can’t wait to see you there!
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Calling all Exhibitors:
Several booth packages are available for 2026 and can be tailored
to fit your budget. Excellent opportunities are available to increase
your brand awareness. Plan to join California's health information
leaders and help them discover innovative ideas to enhance their
work lives. Submit your exhibit contract today to optimize your
brand's visibility!
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Excellence in Trauma Coding: A Masterclass in Precision and Nuance
In-person: Sunday, June 7, 2026 8:30 am – 3:00 pm (PT) - Burlingame, CA
Step into the fast‑paced world of trauma coding with a powerhouse Symposium designed to sharpen accuracy, elevate critical thinking and build confidence across ICD‑10‑CM and CPT® coding. This immersive experience demystifies ICD‑10‑CM Chapter 19 by breaking down the structure, conventions and documentation nuances behind injury and burn coding.
Attendees will also master the storytelling power of external cause codes in Chapter 20, learning to capture mechanism, place, activity and status with clarity and precision. The session then accelerates into advanced CPT® territory, guiding medical coders through the procedural complexities of trauma care—from fractures and soft‑tissue injuries to burns, stabbings and traumatic amputations. With a case‑based approach that mirrors real‑world intensity, attendees will decode challenging scenarios, refine sequencing decisions and apply best practices that ensure complete, compliant and accurate trauma coding. This is the ultimate deep dive for medical coders of all skill levels who are ready to elevate their expertise and thrive in the demanding realm of trauma documentation and coding.
Approved for 6 CEUs
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Release of Information Academy
Two-day eLearning Series: April 7 & 9, 2026 9:00 am – 12:10 pm (PT)
Stay ahead of the complexities of releasing protected health information. This two-day eLearning series will guide you through ROI fundamentals, evolving federal and California regulations, and real-world challenges—from sensitive records to subpoena compliance.
Join industry experts for practical insights, actionable tools, and guidance you can apply immediately to strengthen your workflows and ensure compliance across the continuum of care.
Approved for 6 CEUs
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Take Action By April 22 | ADVOCACY ACTION ALERT: Urge Congress to Repeal Section 510 – Support Accurate Patient Identification
Congress has begun the Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27) budget process, and now is the time to act. Contact your U.S. Senators and Representatives and urge them to repeal Section 510 — the longstanding federal ban on developing a unique patient identifier — in the FY27 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Labor-HHS) appropriations bill.
For years, Section 510 has prevented progress toward a coordinated national strategy for patient identification. Patient misidentification continues to contribute to medical errors, duplicate records, privacy risks, and administrative inefficiencies. Repealing this outdated ban would allow policymakers and healthcare stakeholders to explore solutions that improve patient safety, data integrity, and interoperability. Momentum has grown in recent years to lift the ban, but it remains in place. Lawmakers need to hear directly from health information professionals about the real-world impact of patient misidentification and why action is needed now.
Please take a few minutes to contact your members of Congress and ask them to support the repeal of Section 510 in the FY27 budget. Your voice matters.
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Emerging
Professional
(Student)
Membership
Jumpstart
your
career
with
a
special
“Student”
discount.
Invest
$20
and
unlock two years of member-only values through
LEAD
that
include
scholarships,
mentorship
and
discovering
new
pathways
to
elevate
your
career.
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Discover Our CHIA Component Group Corner
Get the Latest Update on Component Work Group Progress and Join the Meetings
CHIA has three Component Groups hard at work: Medical Coding Community, HI Operations Work Group, and HI & Emerging Professional Mentor Network. If you haven't joined one of these groups yet, consider it for 2026. Each workgroup engages during its Component Group Meetings. Follow the instructions below and then register for these sessions.
Click Join the Group on
the User Platform. Even though the group
is marked as PRIVATE, by clicking join,
you become part of a component group that
is exclusive to CHIA members. Dual
Membership (AHIMA + CHIA) ensures membership
into these CGs.
Don’t wait any longer...Join now!
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Component Group Calendar
Join group to participate.
HI & Emerging Professional Mentor Component Group Meeting
April 9, 2026
HI Operations Workgroup Meeting
May 21
, 2026
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Discover Member Financial Education Support and Register for CHIACON26 | Foundation for Active Member Education (FAME)
The CHIA Foundation for Active Member Education (FAME) Scholarship helps CHIA Professional members attend CHIA-sponsored education programs when financial limitations might otherwise prevent participation.
With CHIACON registration now open, this is the perfect time to apply. Approved recipients receive complimentary registration to a CHIA program, including CHIACON, and may request reimbursement for travel, lodging, and meals.
Applications are accepted year-round and must be submitted at least 30 days prior to the program. If attending CHIACON would not otherwise be possible, we encourage you to apply.
CHIA Professional members in good standing are eligible.
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Have you Discovered CHIA's HI Resources?
Discover HI Access Resources | Privacy & Security in CA
Unlock the knowledge and skills needed to confidently navigate the complex world of patient health information with CHIA’s latest Health Information Access resources. Designed by leading health information professionals and informed by expert legal advisors, these comprehensive tools provide practical guidance to help master the intricacies of managing protected health information, privacy and security regulations and best practices.
Discover eBook Series | Release of Information in CA
CHIA’s Release of Information in California (ROI) eBook series empowers health information professionals to confidently master the complexities of managing and releasing protected health information in California. Featuring eleven (11) detailed eBooks.
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Discover
CHIA’s
Latest
News
A
New
Way
to
Access
CHIA
News
Miss
a
Monthly
digest?
Looking
for
the
latest
member
messages?
CHIA
is
posting
information
to
the
Latest
News
Section
on
the
CHIA
homepage.
Click
here
to
access
the
CHIA
Homepage
and
locate
the
latest
news
by
scrolling
down
to
the
middle
of
the
page,
finding
the
section
shown
below.
By
clicking •••
at
the
top
right
corner
of
the
box,
you
will
be
taken
to
the
latest
news
section
where
you
are
welcome
to
read
and
comment
on
any
posts.
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Discover Upcoming Events
ROI Academy
April 7 & 9, 2026
Community Chat: Celebrate HIP Week
April 24, 2026
CHIA Annual Member Meeting and AHIMA Update
May 29, 2026
In Person eLearning Program: Clinical Coding Symposium: Excellence in Trauma Coding: A Masterclass in Precision and Nuance
June 7, 2026
CHIACON26
June 7-10, 2026
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