Connect and Learn at the 2026 AANP Health Policy Conference
Advocate for patients and your profession in Washington, D.C., Feb. 8-10.
The 2026 AANP Health Policy Conference is the exclusive policy conference presented by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners® (AANP) to provide nurse practitioners (NPs) with an opportunity to learn from health policy and industry experts, as well as meet with their elected officials and their staff. Attendees will earn approximately 16.5 contact hours of continuing education (CE) credit.
NPs Turn Advocacy Into Action
The Health Policy Conference is a two-and-a-half day conference that provides NPs from across the country with exceptional educational sessions, networking opportunities and the ability to meet with their congressional leaders. The first day of HPC offers attendees a half day of educational sessions, built for both the first-time attendees and experienced advocates. After an exciting and invigorating day one, attendees can enjoy free time in Washington, D.C., soaking in the sights and attractions of our nation’s capital.
During the second day of the conference, attendees become fully immersed in advocacy and government affairs. The day’s agenda includes an in-depth update from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, as well as a Congressional Staff panel, both of which provide attendees with an insider’s view of legislative and regulatory priorities and policy making. The day is rounded out with a D.C. policy insider keynote speaker and other timely policy topics that impact NPs’ everyday practice.
The final day of the conference culminates with meetings on Capitol Hill. The knowledge gained throughout the conference serves as the backdrop for meaningful conversations with lawmakers. AANP Past President April Kapu DNP, APRN, ACNP-BC, FAANP, FCCM, FAAN, believes these actions are an essential part of advocating not just for the NP profession but for patient care. “When critical issues are being discussed, we need to be there.”
Heading Up the Hill
Capitol Hill Day is a unique opportunity for NPs to meet with their elected officials about timely issues important to NPs and patients. On this important day each year, the halls of Congress are filled with NPs as they make their way to their Senate and House meetings. AANP President Valerie Fuller, PhD, DNP, AGACNP-BC, FNP-BC, FNAP, FAANP, sums up the power of AANP’s Hill Day perfectly: “Walking to the Hill as a unified group to our Capitol feels very powerful. And it feels like we can dominate the world.” Building on the goal of putting policy into action, District of Columbia State Liaison Mary Fisher, DSN, APRN, JD, notes, “Our Health Policy Conference literally gives us a seat at the table with our legislators and the people on important committees.”
Region 11 Director Michelle Nelson, PhD, MS, MBA, APRN, FNP-BC, FAANP, FAAN, FNAP, FADLN, underscores how essential policy is to NP practice. “It is so important that advanced practice nurses, NPs in particular, are engaged because either you are going to steer the ship, or it’s going to be steered in a direction that you don’t want it to go. We have to show up, and we have to have a voice. We have to make sure that we have a seat at that table. If there’s no table, make a table. If there are no seats, drag a seat in, build your own building. We have to have more of a voice, and AANP prepares us to do that — particularly at this conference.”
Join NPs in D.C. This February
Advocacy is at the heart of the NP profession. Join your fellow NPs in Washington, D.C., Feb. 8–10, for the 2026 AANP Health Policy Conference and make sure your voice is heard on the issues that matter most to you and your patients.
Attend this event to meet with lawmakers on Capitol Hill and discuss the timely policy issues impacting your practice and patients — all while earning valuable CE credit. Register today as an AANP member and enjoy $250 off registration fees compared to the nonmember rate.