MGMA Financial Conference 2026

Anjali Downs, Hemant Gupta, and Kathleen Premo, Members of the Firm, speak at the MGMA Financial Conference 2026, which runs from March 1 to 3. Michelle Wright of EBG Advisors joins the sessions.

Hemant, Michelle, and Kathleen co-present "AI Governance & Compliance: Leveraging Opportunities While Protecting the Business." Description:

Artificial intelligence is reshaping health care, from clinical decision support to administrative automation. As vendors flood the market with AI-enabled tools, medical groups face new challenges: how to responsibly evaluate opportunities, avoid compliance missteps, and prepare for emerging regulation.

This session explores the intersection of AI, compliance, and governance in healthcare organizations. Topics include the current regulatory landscape, state-level AI legislation, and evolving federal agency guidance. The speakers will address practical questions for practice leaders: What due diligence is needed before adopting an AI tool? How do you manage risk when AI is used for sensitive functions such as billing, documentation, or patient engagement? What governance structures (committees, policies, and accountability frameworks) should be in place to oversee AI adoption?

Attendees will leave with a roadmap to balance innovation with compliance, positioning their practices to leverage AI while protecting their organizations.

Learning objectives include:

1. Evaluate the current and emerging regulatory landscape for AI use in healthcare 
2. Assess AI vendor offerings through a compliance and due diligence lens 
3. Recommend governance strategies that align AI adoption with organizational risk tolerance and business objectives 

Anjali, Michelle, and Kathleen co-present "Now What? Surviving Coding and Compliance Audits, and Government Investigations." Description:

Your practice is the subject of a government audit. Now what? Audits and investigations are a fact of life for medical groups, but few leaders are fully prepared when the notice comes. Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial payers are expanding oversight, and even small coding errors, documentation gaps, or compliance missteps can quickly escalate into serious risk. The impact goes far beyond dollars. Financial penalties are significant, but reputational harm, regulatory scrutiny, and loss of trust can be just as damaging.

How you respond — and how quickly you engage the right support — often determines whether the outcome is manageable or catastrophic. This session offers a candid discussion of the hard truths and critical lessons in responding to coding and regulatory issues. Attendees will gain insight into the types of audits most common in fee-for-service and government payment programs, the risks associated with each, and what investigators are really looking for. Participants will walk through a vignette that traces the response to an audit notice — from initial letter through risk mitigation — to help leaders be better prepared. In an interactive style format, the speakers will provide strategic and hands-on guidance for practice leaders.

Learning objectives include:

1. Report common types of audits and investigations affecting medical practices, including those initiated by Medicare, Medicaid, and other government payers
2. Apply a structured approach to assessing the financial, operational, and reputational risks associated with audit and investigation activities
3. Manage responses to audit requests and investigations, including when to involve legal counsel to preserve privilege, protect organizational interests, and minimize business disruption

For more information, visit the conference website.