Banner for KZA National Conference held at Loews Nashville Hotel at Vanderbilt Plaza from August 20-22, 2026, featuring colorful neon signs and street scenes in Nashville.

Important Dates

Registration Opens

February 15

Early Bird Discount Ends

April 30

Hotel Room
Block Ends

July 29

National
Conference

August 20-22

Elevate 2026

Advancing Coding Excellence

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Join Us for KZA’s
National Conference | Nashville

Elevate 2026: Advancing Coding Excellence

Gain practical knowledge across Orthopaedics, Otolaryngology, and General Surgery at the KZA 2026 National Conference in Nashville.


Why You Should Attend

  • Top-Level Expertise – Hear directly from our expert consultants, stay current with evolving coding updates, and dive into real-world scenarios to unpack essential E/M and surgical coding insights.

  • All New Courses – Learn to accurately code diagnoses using ICD-10-CM, optimizing accuracy and reimbursement.

  • Earn Valuable CEUs/CMEs – Advance your professional credentials.

  • Engage and Connect – Participate in real-time Q&As and meaningful discussions to network with other healthcare professionals in your specialty.


Date: August 20-22

Location: Nashville, TN

Advance your coding excellence by joining us for the KZA Nashville National Conference! Register now and strengthen your coding confidence.

Register
Logo celebrating 40 years of industry excellence with large yellow number 40, plus sign, large yellow O, and the word years in white. Below, text reads 50 years of industry excellence in smaller blue font.

KZA is thrilled to commemorate over 40 years of empowering healthcare professionals with expert consulting, audit, and coding education solutions. Since KZA’s founding in 1985, we’ve partnered with practices nationwide, delivering cutting-edge insights and unparalleled support in orthopaedics, otolaryngology, dermatology, and more.

This milestone reflects our unwavering commitment to excellence, innovation, and collaboration. We thank our incredible team, loyal clients, and trusted partners who’ve made this journey possible. Together, we’ve shaped a legacy of success—and the future is brighter than ever.

Join us in celebrating this remarkable achievement as we continue to lead the way in healthcare consulting excellence!

KZA Celebrates 40+ Years in 2025!

Elevate 2026: Advancing Coding Excellence

General Surgery | Orthopaedics | Otolaryngology | Revenue Cycle Management

Thursday, August 20th

8:00am – 12:00pm

Advancing Evaluation and Management Coding Excellence Across Otolaryngology

Advancing Evaluation and Management Coding Excellence Across Orthopaedics

Advancing Evaluation and Management Coding Excellence Across General Surgery

1:00pm – 5:00pm

Advancing ICD-10-CM Coding Excellence Across Otolaryngology

Advancing ICD-10-CM Coding Excellence Across Orthopaedics

Advancing ICD-10-CM Coding Excellence Across General Surgery

Friday, August 21st

8:00am – 4:00pm

Advancing Surgical Coding Skills Excellence Across Otolaryngology

Advancing Surgical Coding Skills Excellence Across Orthopaedics

Advancing Surgical Coding Skills Excellence Across General Surgery

Saturday, August 22nd

8:00am – 12:00pm

Advancing Excellence in RCM: Strengthening Financial Integrity

Please be aware that some sessions will occur simultaneously. We encourage you to carefully review the schedule and select your courses accordingly, as you may not attend overlapping sessions.

Pricing

Half day: $699

Full day: $1199

Two full days: $1999

Full Conference (3-day bundle): $2299

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$250
FOR AMERICA'S 250TH

Celebrate 250 Years of Independence — and Declare Independence From Thin Margins.

Register for the Fall Leadership Summit alongside a Nashville 2026 two-day or three-day conference package and take $250 off your Summit registration. The two registrations don't have to be the same person — send your coder to Nashville and your administrator to the Summit.

Claim the $250 Offer – Register for Nashville

Offer ends July 31, 2026. Qualifying Nashville packages: Two Full Days or Full Conference (3-Day). See full terms & conditions.

General Surgery

Advancing Evaluation and Management Coding Excellence Across General Surgery

  • August 20th | 8:00am – 12:00pm

    Karen Whelan, CPC, CPMA, CPCO, CGSC, COSC, CCVTC

    This 2026 E/M coding course covers a spectrum of coding essentials.

    • What’s included in the Calculation of Time?

    • Prolonged Services; when we go beyond the EM threshold

    • The Complexity of the Problem; does it drive the visit level?

    • Do we know what counts toward Data?

    • What is the Risk of Patient Management? And what is it not?

    • Non-Physician Practitioner (NPP) E/M Billing Guidelines, covering the complex intricacies of Incident-To billing and Shared/Split services

    • The Global Package and EM Modifiers 24, 25, 57

    This comprehensive session aims to equip healthcare professionals with essential knowledge for effective medical management.

  • As a result of attending this course, participants will be able to…

    • Learn what can be counted toward the Total Time of the visit

    • Describe how to use the elements of MDM to select a level of E/M code

    • Identify the difference between Incident-To and Shared/Split visits for  Non-Physician Practitioners.

    • Demonstrate correct use of E/M modifiers. 

  • All courses will be accredited; more information will be provided soon.

Advancing Surgical Coding Skills Excellence Across General Surgery

  • August 21st | 8:00am – 4:00pm

    Karen Whelan, CPC, CPMA, CPCO, CGSC, COSC, CCVTC

    • Surviving unlisted codes! 

    • It’s the Connections you Make: Simplifying the complexities of Colectomy, Bariatric and Pancreatic Coding

    • Mastering Hernia Repair

    • Abdominal Tumor codes were new in 2025! Are you coding these correctly?

    • What’s New in 2026?

    With an increase in the implementation of AI (artificial Intelligence), more and more restrictive payor policies, an increase in arbitrary denials, a decrease in payor reimbursement, pre-authorization nightmares, and more make it more important than ever to document and code as accurately as possible.  Incorporate key coding language into your documentation. Staying up to date on the latest codes and reimbursement challenges is crucial.

    KZA’s 2026 surgical coding course breaks down these critical issues and condenses them into a comprehensive day of training. 

    In this course, we will cover an overview of coding basics for an understanding of coding rules and documentation detail requirements.

    Most importantly, the course provides in-depth instruction on coding for various procedures, including colorectal, damage control surgery, bariatric, hernia repair, gallbladder, liver, pancreas, intraabdominal tumors/HIPEC, endocrine surgery, breast surgery, and more! 

    With rich clinical scenarios and a comprehensive workbook, which will become your go-to resource for coding challenges, you’ll leave with the skills necessary for accurate and efficient coding and documentation in 2026 and beyond.  

  • As a result of attending this course, participants will be able to…

    • Recognize the impact of modifiers on global periods and reimbursement

    • Identify areas for improvement in surgical documentation

    • Select correct codes for common general surgery procedures

    • Describe the new 2026 CPT codes for general surgery

  • All courses will be accredited; more information will be provided soon.

Advancing ICD-10-CM Coding Excellence Across General Surgery

  • August 20th | 1:00pm – 5:00pm

    Karen Whelan, CPC, CPMA, CPCO, CGSC, COSC, CCVTC

    Increase your proficiency in coding General Surgery ICD-10-CM diagnoses with our course, "Advancing ICD-10-CM Coding Excellence Across General Surgery". This course is designed for professionals who want to gain a deep understanding of diagnosis coding specificity, ensuring compliance and accuracy with the latest guidelines and best practices.

  • As a result of attending this course, participants will be able to…

    • Integrate the ICD-10-CM guidelines for General Surgery

    • Distinguish between Acute vs Chronic diagnoses

    • Identify common coding errors

  • All courses will be accredited; more information will be provided soon.

Register Now

Orthopaedics

Advancing Evaluation and Management Coding Excellence Across Orthopaedics

  • August 20th | 8:00am – 12:00pm

    Christine Banks, RHIA, CPC, CPCO

    Increase your proficiency in coding Orthopaedic Evaluation and Management (E/M) services and office procedures with our course, "Advancing Coding Excellence Across Orthopaedics Evaluation and Management Coding." This course is designed for professionals who want to gain a deep understanding of E/M coding, ensuring compliance and accuracy with the latest guidelines and best practices.

  • As a result of attending this course, participants will be able to…

    • Integrate the E/M guidelines for Office/Outpatient, Inpatient, Observation, Consultations, and Emergency Department services into your current practice.

    • Recognize incident-to, direct billing, and split/shared reporting rules for PAs and NPs.

    • Evaluate when it is appropriate to report an E/M modifier and office procedure.

  • All courses will be accredited; more information will be provided soon.

Advancing Surgical Coding Skills Excellence Across Orthopaedics

  • August 21st | 8:00am – 4:00pm

    Christine Banks, RHIA, CPC, CPCO

    Dive into the intricacies of Orthopaedic surgical coding with industry experts, gain insights on the latest updates, and enhance your skills to ensure accurate and efficient coding practices. Our comprehensive course, “Advancing Surgical Coding Excellence Across Orthopaedics”, is designed for professionals who aim to master the complexities of Orthopaedic surgical coding.

  • As a result of attending this course, participants will be able to…

    • Navigate and apply CPT, AAOS Global Service Data (GSD) and Medicare NCCI guidelines.

    • Analyze simple and complex surgical coding procedures.

    • Distinguish between the complexities of hand and foot and ankle procedures.

    • Identify common complications associated with joint arthroplasty and their impact on coding.

  • All courses will be accredited; more information will be provided soon.

Advancing ICD-10-CM Coding Excellence Across Orthopaedics

  • August 20th | 1:00pm – 5:00pm

    Christine Banks, RHIA, CPC, CPCO

    Increase your proficiency in coding Orthopaedic ICD-10-CM diagnoses with our course, "Advancing ICD-10-CM Coding Excellence Across Orthopaedics".  This course is designed for professionals who want to gain a deep understanding of diagnosis coding specificity, ensuring compliance and accuracy with the latest guidelines and best practices.

  • As a result of attending this course, participants will be able to…

    • Integrate the ICD-10-CM guidelines for Orthopaedics into your current practice.

    • Distinguish between Acute vs Chronic Musculoskeletal diagnoses.

    • Apply the appropriate 7th character for fracture coding.

    • Identify common coding errors

  • All courses will be accredited; more information will be provided soon.

Register Now

Otolaryngology

Advancing Evaluation and Management Coding Excellence Across Otolaryngology

  • August 20th | 8:00am – 12:00pm

    Deb Grider, CDIP, CCS-P, CPC, CPC-I, CPC-P, COC, CEMC, CPMA

    This course provides otolaryngology professionals with a comprehensive understanding of Evaluation and Management (E/M) coding and documentation requirements. Participants will learn how to accurately select E/M service levels based on current guidelines, including history, examination, and medical decision-making components. The course emphasizes compliance with E/M documentation, proper use of time-based coding, and strategies to avoid common coding errors. Through practical examples and case scenarios specific to otolaryngology, attendees will gain the skills needed to receive accurate reimbursement, maintain regulatory compliance, and improve documentation efficiency in clinical practice.

  • As a result of attending this course, participants will be able to…

    • Review E/M Modifiers including Modifier 24, 25 and 57

    • Identify key requirements for “incident to”, direct, and shared/split billing non-physician practitioners (NPPs)

    • Build upon previous knowledge of the E/M guidelines for Medical Decision Making and Time

    • Review Medical-Decision Making (MDM) elements - Problems Addressed, Data, and Risk (aka Medical Decision-Making elements) and Time that apply in all settings

  • All courses will be accredited; more information will be provided soon.

Advancing Surgical Coding Skills Excellence Across Otolaryngology

  • August 21st | 8:00am – 4:00pm

    Deb Grider, CDIP, CCS-P, CPC, CPC-I, CPC-P, COC, CEMC, CPMA

    Staying current with accurate, high‑quality coding has never been more essential—and the 2026 Otolaryngology Surgical Procedure Coding Course is your opportunity to stay ahead of the curve. This intensive, fast‑paced program distills the most critical updates and best practices in Otolaryngology coding into one power‑packed day designed to elevate your accuracy, confidence, and productivity.

    This year’s agenda delivers everything you need to code and document with precision for 2026 and beyond. You’ll learn why documentation is just as important as the codes you choose and how strategic improvements to your notes can help capture every dollar of legitimate reimbursement. We’ll walk you through the proper use of surgical payment modifiers, giving you the tools to optimize payment, minimize denials, and strengthen appeals.

    You’ll also receive deep, clinically grounded instruction across key specialty areas—including Otology, Rhinology, Laryngology, Facial plastics, Complex repairs, ATTs, flaps, grafts, and Head and Neck procedures—ensuring you can confidently navigate even the most challenging coding scenarios.

    Rich with real-world clinical examples, the course includes a comprehensive, practical workbook that will quickly become your go-to reference long after the session ends.

    Join us for a transformative day that sharpens your skills, strengthens your documentation, and equips you with the strategies you need for coding success in 2026.

  • As a result of attending this course, participants will be able to…

    • Use surgery coding that meets CPT rules and government regulations for commonly performed procedures.

    • Integrate ENT subspecialty coding principles in otology/neurotology, rhinology, laryngology, facial plastics, and head and neck procedures

    • Correctly code common Otolaryngology surgical procedures

    • Recognize the impact of modifiers on global periods and reimbursement

    • Accurately apply modifiers when they are required and understand their impact on reimbursement

  • All courses will be accredited; more information will be provided soon.

Advancing ICD-10-CM Coding Excellence Across Otolaryngology

  • August 20th | 1:00pm – 5:00pm

    Deb Grider, CDIP, CCS-P, CPC, CPC-I, CPC-P, COC, CEMC, CPMA

    This training program is designed to provide healthcare professionals, coders, and billing specialists with comprehensive knowledge and practical skills for accurately coding Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) diagnoses using ICD-10-CM. Participants will learn the structure and conventions of ICD-10-CM, explore ENT-specific chapters and code ranges, and apply official coding guidelines to real-world scenarios.

    The course emphasizes:

    • Understanding ICD-10-CM organization and ENT-related code sets.

    • Applying laterality, specificity, and combination codes for ENT conditions.

    • Navigating documentation requirements for accurate coding.

    • Practicing coding through case studies involving common ENT diagnoses such as otitis media, sinusitis, tonsillitis, hearing loss, and nasal disorders.

    By the end of the training, participants will be able to:

    • Assign precise ICD-10-CM codes for ENT conditions.

    • Improve accuracy and efficiency in ENT-related billing and reimbursement processes.

  • As a result of attending this course, participants will be able to…

    1. Understand ICD-10-CM Structure for ENT

      • Explain the format and organization of ICD-10-CM codes.

      • Identify chapters and code ranges relevant to ENT (e.g., H60–H95 for ear disorders, J00–J99 for respiratory system).

    2. Apply Coding Guidelines

      • Interpret official ICD-10-CM guidelines for ENT conditions.

      • Differentiate between primary and secondary diagnoses in ENT cases.

    3. Accurately Code Common ENT Diagnoses

    4. Use Laterality and Specificity

      • Apply laterality (right, left, bilateral) and episode of care (initial, subsequent, sequela) in ENT coding.

      • Recognize when additional characters are required for specificity.

    5. Documentation Requirements

      • Understand key documentation elements needed for accurate ENT coding (e.g., site, severity, chronicity, cause).

    6. Apply Coding to Real-World Scenarios

      • Practice coding using case studies involving ENT diagnoses and procedures

  • All courses will be accredited; more information will be provided soon.

Register Now

Revenue Cycle Management

Ensuring Compliance in Revenue Cycle Operations

  • August 22nd | 8:00am – 12:00pm

    Matthew Shortt, PA-C, MBA

    Revenue Cycle Management (RCM) is the financial backbone of every medical practice, yet many organizations struggle with avoidable denials, inconsistent charge capture, inefficient front‑end processes, and lack of alignment between clinical and administrative teams. These gaps result in lost revenue, higher patient balances, frustrated staff, and increased physician burden.

    This four‑hour, expert‑led course provides a deep, practical, and strategic understanding of the entire RCM continuum, from patient scheduling to final collections. The curriculum will include a module on Work Relative Value Units (wRVUs) helping participants understand how provider productivity is measured, how wRVUs tie to revenue and compensation, and how documentation quality directly impacts wRVU generation. This section empowers both physicians and administrators to interpret wRVU data, benchmark performance, identify documentation and coding gaps, and ensure compensation models are fair and sustainable. This course is designed for physicians and practice administrators, with clear emphasis on how clinical decision‑making, documentation, and workflow design directly affect financial performance.

    Participants will learn how to diagnose weak points in their revenue cycle, understand the 13 essential RCM steps, apply best practices for clean claim creation, improve denial prevention and recovery, enhance documentation accuracy, analyze KPIs, and establish a governance model for long‑term RCM stability. Real-world examples, interactive case scenarios, and role‑based exercises empower attendees to immediately implement improvements in their own practices.

  • As a result of attending this course, participants will be able to…

    • Understand the End-to-End Revenue Cycle

    • Strengthen Front-End Processes

    • Improve Documentation, Coding, and Charge Capture

    • Optimize Claims Submission and Clean Claim Rates

    • Strengthen Denial Prevention, Management & Appeals

    • Improve Back-End Patient Billing & Collections

    • Understand the Fundamentals of wRVUs

    • Interpret wRVU Compensation Models

    • Use wRVU Data to Improve Revenue and Provider Efficiency

    • Establish RCM and wRVU KPI Dashboards

  • All courses will be accredited; more information will be provided soon.

Register Now

KZA National Speakers

  • Portrait of a smiling woman with glasses, wearing a light gray blazer and a white top, against a plain white background.

    Christine Banks

    RHIA, CPC, CPCO

    Read Bio
  • A middle-aged woman with blonde hair, wearing a black blazer and a black turtleneck, smiling.

    Deborah Grider

    CDIP, CCS-P, CPC, CPC-I, CPC-P, COC, CEMC, CPMA

    Read Bio
  • A woman with shoulder-length red hair, blue eyes, and fair skin, smiling and wearing a sleeveless black top against a plain light gray background.

    Karen Whelan

    CPC, CPMA, CPCO, CGSC, COSC, CCVTC

    Read Bio
  • Professional headshot of a man in a gray suit, white shirt, and navy blue tie, smiling against a plain white background.

    Matthew Shortt

    PA-C, MBA

    Read Bio
A modern bedroom with a bed, pillows, and a decorative wall behind it. The wall features a combination of wood paneling and a blue textured panel. Two hanging gold pendant lights flank the bed, and there is a bedside table with decorative items. The room has hardwood floors and a neutral color scheme.

Loews Nashville Hotel at Vanderbilt Plaza
2100 West End Ave
Nashville, TN 37203

Book before July 22nd for a special room rate of $279 per night, plus tax, at Nashville’s Loews Vanderbilt Hotel.

Click the link below to book your room, or call 877-879-7818 and reference the KZA 2026 National Conference.

Hotel Arrangements

Book Here!
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Local Restaurants

There are some incredible restaurants in the Nashville Area that offer a variety of cuisine. Enjoy all Nashville has to offer with traditional southern comfort food, barbecue, seafood, and honky-tonk bars.

Savor distinctive Nashville specialties like hot chicken, Moon Pies, Goo Goo Clusters, and more!

Click the link below to explore local options.

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Feedback from Past Conference Attendees

  • "Very comprehensive review, this course provides tangible ways to improve documentation and billing."

    – Lya Crichlon

  • "Educator was engaging and knowledgeable! I am leaving with a ton of ideas and motivation to continue practices that I have implemented!”

    – Melissa Satterfield
    Wooster Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine

  • "Hands down, I prefer to be in person, especially when KZA is presenting. Everyone needs to have the opportunity to participate in this. It is truly time and money well spent. KZA’s knowledge is revenue!"

    – Spine Course Attendee

  • "This course was incredibly comprehensive, offering content that was both informative and practical. The structure of the topics made it easy to follow and grasp each concept thoroughly. I appreciated how each module seamlessly built upon the previous one, creating a cohesive learning experience. Overall, I gained significant insights from this course, and I’m confident that the knowledge will be valuable in the future."

    – Edilia Castano Ganan
    Pediatric Orthopedics of SWFL

  • "As always, we have take-a-ways from the courses that we can implement in our practice. KZA is by far THE best conferences that I have ever attended and that is why we keep going back, year after year and why we look forward to learning from them every year."

    – Darcy Crabb
    Ear Nose & Throat Consultants and Hearing Services PLC

  • “I enjoyed the information/topic on spine most. Its hard to find information like this on spine. I'm new to spine coding and haven't found a lot of training information on spine so this was very helpful.”

    – Kim Mathis

  • "This is my 3rd year attending this course and the 2nd year with Deb. Coding certifications prepare you for the technical aspects of correct coding, but until you're "in the trenches" and working with providers, payors and EHR systems, you can't appreciate the necessity of an annual KZA course. It's not an expense- it's an investment that pays immediately- beginning the Monday after you've spent Fri and Sat with Deb, through improved documentation, coding and appeals mgmt. The information is current and the benefit of attending with coders, providers and billers gives added insight into regional denial trends and perspectives on correct coding, documentation and appeal strategies."

    – Carmen Powell
    Murfreesboro Medical Group ENT/Allergy

  • "I was impressed; several times, a participant had questions about scenarios not given in the workbook, and the presenter confidently navigated and responded to those scenarios, which gave me confidence in the presentation and her representation of KZA."

    – Spine Course Attendee

  • "The workbooks created by KZA (then and now) are excellent reference tools. KZA Presenters are high-energy and very knowledgeable. They never make you feel like you are asking a dumb question, and they are willing to break down a coding issue."

    – Spine Course Attendee

  • “The information in the orthopedic workshops are spot on. They are on point. We cant afford to not go to a KZA ortho workshop.”

    – Megan Williams

  • “I have attended multiple KZA courses—all were outstanding.”

    – Michael Reid, MD, MBA

  • “This course was very informative and provided great resources that can be applied to my organization.”

    – Erin Holmstrom

  • “I enjoyed everything about this course. We were able to cover almost every topic in our workbooks, had the option to ask questions during the course as well as afterwards. Fantastic resource and let me know that I was coding some of the more complicated spine cases correctly. This was an amazing conference that taught me new concepts and let me know I was mostly on track with my spine coding.”

    – Shannon Knight

  • “It gives me a good sense of security to be able to attend a course like this and get confirmation of what we are doing right, what we need to improve and come back with lots of helpful tips.”

    – Eva Gomez

  • “It was a good course that gave great information that I can bring back to the office to help improve our workflow so we can get paid on initial submission.”

    – Shannan Robinett

Have Questions About Registration or Exhibiting at Our Conference?

Our team is here to help with all your registration needs, whether you're signing up, registering a group, or exploring exhibitor opportunities. Contact us today to learn more and secure your spot at the KZA Nashville National Conference!

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