2026 is loaded with case management conferences. We went through them all so you can pick the ones worth your time and budget.
Below you’ll find national events, behavioral health conferences, regional chapter meetups, international options, and a few you might not have on your radar yet. Every listing includes dates, locations, and CE credit details.
Quick-reference conference calendar
| Conference | Dates | Location | Focus | CE Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACMA Eastern PA Chapter | Feb 28 | Bethlehem, PA | Case management and transitions of care | Yes |
| ACMA Southern CA Chapter | Mar 14 | Temecula, CA | Case management and transitions of care | Yes |
| ACMA Arizona Chapter | Mar 14 | Scottsdale, AZ | Case management and transitions of care | Yes |
| CMSUK “Tomorrow’s World” | Mar 17-18 | Solihull, England | Neurorehab, assistive tech, digital health | Yes |
| ACMA National Conference | Apr 20-23 | Orlando, FL | Hospital case management and transitions of care | Yes |
| NAMCP Spring Managed Care Forum | Apr 23-24 | Orlando, FL | Managed care, care coordination | CME/CEU/NCPD |
| NatCon 2026 | Apr 27-29 | Denver, CO | Behavioral health | Yes |
| ACMA Northern CA Chapter | May 15 | Stateline, NV | Case management and transitions of care | Yes |
| ACMA Minnesota Chapter | May 15 | Bloomington, MN | Case management and transitions of care | Yes |
| ACMA New Jersey Chapter | Jun 5 | Atlantic City, NJ | Case management and transitions of care | Yes |
| CMSA Annual Conference & Expo | Jun 16-19 | Las Vegas, NV | All case management disciplines | RN, SW, CCM, CDMS, CRC, CNLCP |
| Behavioral Health Management Forum | Jun 25-26 | Chicago, IL | Behavioral health integration, value-based care | Yes |
| HECMA Annual Conference | TBD 2026 | Reno, NV | Higher education case management | Yes |
| ACMA Virginia Chapter | Sep 26 | Richmond, VA | Case management and transitions of care | Yes |
| NACM Annual Conference | Sep 29-Oct 1 | Atlantic City, NJ | Behavioral health case management | Yes |
| CMSA Virtual Leadership Conference | Oct 6 | Virtual | Case management leadership | Yes |
| ACMA/APLCM Leadership Conference | Nov 15-17 | Nashville, TN | Leadership and physician advisors | Yes |
National conferences
ACMA 2026 National Conference
- Dates: April 20-23, 2026
- Location: Orlando World Center Marriott, Orlando, FL
- Website: events.acmaweb.org
The 33rd Annual National Case Management and Transitions of Care Conference. This is the one most hospital-based case managers circle on their calendars, and for good reason. Three days of programming cover utilization management, discharge planning, and care transitions, with session formats ranging from Learning Exchanges and Solution Rooms to Accelerated Learning sessions.
The attendee mix is nurses, social workers, physician advisors, health plan representatives, and healthcare administrators. Hotel rate at the Orlando World Center Marriott: $289/night plus a $35 resort fee.
Registration is open. If you attend one case management conference this year, make it this one.
CMSA 2026 Annual Conference & Expo
- Dates: June 16-19, 2026
- Location: Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, Las Vegas, NV
- Website: cmsa.org/conference
CMSA runs the other big national event. The 2026 theme is “Building Tomorrow Through Case Management Excellence,” and the main program kicks off Wednesday, June 17 with Rhonda Manns presenting “Beyond Limits: Unlocking an Innovative Mindset.”
What sets CMSA apart: the breadth of educational tracks. Health equity, behavioral health, leadership, technology, value-based reimbursement. Three pre-conference workshops on June 16 cover writing and publication, empathy mapping for innovation, and career advancement through resume development.
The CE credit list is long: RN, SW, CCM (including Ethics), CDMS (including Ethics), CRC (including Ethics), CNLCP, and CPQH. If you hold multiple certifications, this conference lets you knock out several at once. Hotel rates start at $178/night through May 22, 2026.
“Every keystroke saved, is time saved, which means I can do my job longer and see more children.” — Dr. Melanie Hsu
NACM 31st Annual Case Management Conference
- Dates: September 29-October 1, 2026
- Location: Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, NJ
- Website: yournacm.com
NACM focuses on behavioral health and community services case management. Practical training sessions, peer networking, and discussions on best practices for professionals working in mental health, substance use, and community-based programs.
If your work leans more toward behavioral health than hospital-based care, NACM is the better fit over ACMA.
Behavioral health and managed care conferences
NatCon 2026
- Dates: April 27-29, 2026
- Location: Colorado Convention Center, Denver, CO
- Website: thenationalcouncil.org/natcon
Not a case management conference by name. But this is where behavioral health professionals across all roles converge, from early-career clinicians to C-suite leaders. If you’re a case manager in a behavioral health organization or integrated care setting, NatCon connects you with a wider professional community than the case management-specific events.
Behavioral Health Management Forum
- Dates: June 25-26, 2026
- Location: Swissotel, Chicago, IL
- Website: wcforum.com/conferences/behavioral-health
Two days aimed at leaders and executives from hospitals, health systems, and health plans. The programming focuses on integrating behavioral health across the care continuum and implementing value-based and population health strategies.
Smaller than ACMA or CMSA. The audience is more senior.
NAMCP Spring Managed Care Forum
- Dates: April 23-24, 2026
- Location: Rosen Shingle Creek Resort, Orlando, FL
- Website: namcp.org/home/conferences
Up to 14 hours of CME/CEU/NCPD continuing education in two days. The forum brings together healthcare executives from the American Association of Integrated Healthcare Delivery Systems, American Association of Managed Care Nurses, and NAMCP Medical Directors Institute. Worth considering if you’re involved in managed care coordination or population health strategy.
International conference
CMSUK “Tomorrow’s World” Conference 2026
- Dates: March 17-18, 2026
- Location: St John’s Hotel, Solihull, England
- Website: cmsuk.org/conferences/2026
The Case Management Society UK teams up with the Society of Research in Rehabilitation for this two-day event. The 2026 program covers neurorehabilitation, assistive technology, digital health, and workforce development across 16 breakout sessions. A nice touch: all sessions are available on demand for several weeks after the event, so you can catch what you missed.
Fifty exhibitors in one centralized hall. For case managers working internationally or in rehabilitation settings, CMSUK offers a different lens than the US-centric ACMA and CMSA events.
Higher education case management
HECMA Annual Conference 2026
- Dates: TBD (likely summer 2026)
- Location: Reno, NV
- Website: hecma.org
HECMA is for case managers working in colleges and universities, focused on student well-being, threat assessment, and campus support systems. Registration details for 2026 are still pending, but the location has been confirmed as Reno. Keep an eye on the HECMA website for updates.
Leadership conferences
ACMA/APLCM 2026 Leadership and Physician Advisor Conference
- Dates: November 15-17, 2026
- Location: Nashville, TN
- Website: acmaweb.org
Targets leaders in case management, transitions of care, social work, health plans, healthcare administration, and physician advisors. If you’ve moved into a leadership role and the general conference feels too broad, this is a more focused option.
CMSA Virtual Leadership Conference
- Dates: October 6, 2026
- Location: Virtual (full-day live event)
- Website: cmsa.org
One day. No travel. No hotel. CMSA designed this for professionals who want leadership-focused content without burning three days and a travel budget on an in-person event.
ACMA regional chapter conferences
ACMA runs chapter conferences throughout the year. Single-day events, lower registration fees, and closer to home for most case managers. Same educational quality as the national conference, condensed format.
| Chapter | Date | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Eastern Pennsylvania | February 28, 2026 | Wind Creek Bethlehem, Bethlehem, PA |
| Southern California | March 14, 2026 | Pechanga Resort Casino, Temecula, CA |
| Arizona | March 14, 2026 | Westin Kierland Resort & Spa, Scottsdale, AZ |
| Northern California | May 15, 2026 | Tahoe Blue Event Center, Stateline, NV |
| Minnesota | May 15, 2026 | DoubleTree by Hilton, Bloomington, MN |
| New Jersey | June 5, 2026 | Resorts Casino Hotel, Atlantic City, NJ |
| Virginia | September 26, 2026 | Richmond Marriott, Richmond, VA |
Check the ACMA calendar for additional chapter events as they’re announced.
How to choose the right conference
Not every conference fits every case manager. Here’s a quick breakdown by specialty:
Hospital-based case management: ACMA National Conference. Built for utilization review, discharge planning, transitions of care.
Behavioral health: NACM or NatCon. NACM is case management-specific. NatCon is broader but puts you in the room with the wider behavioral health community.
Managed care and population health: NAMCP Spring Forum. The Behavioral Health Management Forum works for senior roles.
Leadership: ACMA/APLCM Leadership Conference (in-person, three days) or CMSA Virtual Leadership Conference (one day, no travel).
Broad professional development: CMSA Annual Conference covers the widest range of tracks and credentials. Best option if you need CE credits across multiple certifications.
Higher education: HECMA. It’s the only conference built for campus-based case managers.
Tight budget: ACMA chapter conferences. One day, regional, minimal travel costs.
Tips for getting the most from a case management conference
Going to a conference is one thing. Getting value out of it takes a little prep work.
Review the session catalog early and map out your schedule. The popular sessions fill up. If the conference offers pre-conference workshops, check whether they require separate registration.
The people you meet matter more than the sessions you attend. Bring more business cards than you think you need. Create a set of networking follow-up templates before the event so you can reach out to new contacts within 24 hours of meeting them.
Conference notes have a half-life of about 48 hours. If you wait longer than two days to process them into action items or share them with your team, they’re gone. TextExpander Snippets work well here: build a standardized note-taking template for each session (speaker, key points, action items, follow-up contacts) and you’ll capture consistent information across every talk you attend.
Need your employer to approve the trip? Frame the request around CE credits, specific sessions tied to organizational goals, and the networking value. Most conferences publish session catalogs months ahead, so you can build a targeted case for attendance.
Frequently asked questions
What is the biggest case management conference?
ACMA National Conference and CMSA Annual Conference & Expo are the two largest. ACMA focuses on hospital-based case management and transitions of care. CMSA covers a broader range of healthcare settings and disciplines.
How much do case management conferences cost?
National conferences like ACMA and CMSA run $500 to $1,200 for registration, plus travel and hotel. ACMA regional chapter conferences cost considerably less since they’re single-day events. CMSA’s Virtual Leadership Conference eliminates travel costs entirely.
Can I earn CE credits at case management conferences?
Most do. CMSA’s annual conference provides CE for RN, SW, CCM, CDMS, CRC, CNLCP, and CPQH certifications. ACMA and NACM events offer CE/CEU credits as well. Always check each conference’s website for specific credit types and hours before registering.
Are there virtual case management conferences in 2026?
CMSA’s Virtual Leadership Conference on October 6, 2026 is a full-day live event. CMSA also runs Integrated Case Management training via Zoom in April 2026. Some in-person conferences offer hybrid attendance options, so check individual event pages.
What should I bring to a case management conference?
Business cards, a notebook or tablet, comfortable shoes for the exhibit hall, and your CE tracking information. Set up follow-up email templates before you leave so you can send personalized notes to new contacts within a day of meeting them.
