When: September 22-24, 2026
Where: Arlington VA
Event Page
Civitas’ Annual Conference brings together hundreds of passionate industry leaders, decision-makers, implementers, and innovators to discuss interoperability, data-driven quality improvement, social determinants of health, public health, multi-stakeholder and community-led governance, and health outcomes. Civitas’ members serve as the bridge between “data” and “doing” in health and health care. Attendees choose the conference to foster deep connections, strengthen and build new partnerships, and leave with tangible ways to evolve their national, state, regional, and local initiatives.
The 2026 Civitas Annual Conference Call for Proposals (CFP) opened on Wednesday, February 25. They will be accepting submissions that align with their conference theme, Local innovation. National impact, and their three conference tracks.
2026 Civitas Annual Conference Tracks
- Critical National, State, and Local Health Infrastructure Showcase – This track examines how nonprofit and state-led organizations are improving health outcomes in their local geographies through better data exchange, enhanced data usability, cross-sector collaboration, and trusted community partnerships. Sessions will highlight multi-stakeholder alignment, inclusive governance models, and partnerships that support sustainable, community-driven health infrastructure and solutions. Presenters are encouraged to showcase collaborative efforts that center on community needs and deliver long-term, scalable results with proven impact.
- Data in Action: Analytics, Insights, and Value – This track offers a deep dive into data exchange, with a focus on ensuring data is usable, standardized, and trustworthy. Presentations will demonstrate how HIEs, health data organizations, and strategic business and technology partners are delivering value to their communities by improving data quality, transforming data into meaningful and measurable insights, and supporting advancements in population health, public health, value-based care, and quality improvement initiatives. With a focus on people, process, and infrastructure, presenters should highlight how data-driven initiatives positively impact patients, providers, and/or payers and lead to improved outcomes.
- Moving From Policy to Practice – This track explores new and ongoing federal and state programs and examines how Civitas members and partners are putting policy into practice. Presentations will highlight current and past efforts to advance payment models and implement critical federal initiatives, regulations, and waivers—including elements of the 21st Century Cures Act (TEFCA, information blocking enforcement, maintaining trust, privacy, and security), CMS Health Tech Ecosystem pledges, price transparency, Rural Health Transformation, the QIO Program, interoperability and prior authorization initiatives, CDC’s Public Health Data Modernization, and the use of 1115 Medicaid waiver funding. Sessions will highlight how policy has either helped or hindered implementation efforts and should focus on the sustainability of implemented programs.
- Innovating and Building for the Future – This track explores how emerging technologies, artificial intelligence, and new frameworks are being applied to build on existing infrastructure and drive continued advancement in interoperability and health improvement. Presentations will highlight innovative approaches and real-world demonstrations that show how digital tools can support better care delivery and improved health outcomes. Recognizing that technology and AI are a supplement to, but not a replacement for, clinician interpretation, discussion around maintaining trust, oversight as new technologies are incorporated into data, design, and workflows, is encouraged.
All submissions are due by Wednesday, March 18, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. ET. Please be sure to submit your proposal ASAP to be considered for this year’s conference. They look forward to learning about the important work you’re doing!
