Wells Health Group is a Health Policy Consulting and Government Relations Firm Based in Washington D.C.
WHG helps clients navigate the Post Pandemic New Era & Beyond healthcare delivery system:
- New CMS reimbursement pathways in aggregate with the new Medicare Technology Coding and Pricing Group to allow for faster access to innovative technologies.
- New FDA Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) regulations to allow for unapproved medical products or unapproved uses of approved medical products to be used in an emergency.
- New CDC public health guidance, evolving as the knowledge base grows, and expanded/refined data reporting.
- New NIH infectious disease research and expanded medical and behavioral health research.
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Deb Wells
WHG was founded in 2012 by Deb Wells to provide clients with specialized guidance in developing and implementing reimbursement and market access policies. Deb brings a rare combination of more than 30 years of healthcare industry leadership coupled with well-recognized government relations expertise.
Early on, Deb recognized that FDA regulations and CMS reimbursement processes are not intuitive and can lead to uncertainties and market access complications.
A few examples of Deb’s more recently recognized expertise includes her energetic participation in the HCPCS Coding Reform Alliance, and CMS HCPCS New Coding Application Beta testing. The Alliance is advocating for transparency, and separation of the coverage and coding process, among other problematic issues.
Her expertise includes CMS Demonstration Projects, Medicare and Medicaid HMO operations, specialty pharmacy, home infusion therapy, home health care, medical devices, disease management, rare and chronic diseases, wound management, and M & A consulting.
During her career, Ms. Wells has held senior management positions with proficiency in developing healthcare policy programs; national managed care contracting; strategic marketing and planning; clinical; and operations management in the health care industry. Key positions include Vice President of Corporate Development and Government Relations for EO2 Concepts, Founder and CEO of StrokeGuard, Chief Operating Officer of Superior HealthPlan (Centene), and Vice President of Olsten Health Services.
Deb’s Therapeutic Areas (TA’s) of specialty include rare and chronic diseases: Skin Cancer, Transplant Services, Hemophilia, Cystic Fibrosis, Multiple Sclerosis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, other Autoimmune Disorders, Neuroimmunology, Cardiac Disease, Stroke, Hepatitis C, Oncology, Crohn’s and Colitis, Diabetes and Asthma.
A few of Deb’s community service passions include:
American Heart Association
American Heart Association - Go Red for Women Leadership Board and Passion Speaker in San Antonio. Deb joined the Women’s Board of the American Heart Association of the Greater Washington Area in 2019 and is a frequent speaker as an Advocate for the American Heart Association. San Antonio Healthcare Leadership
University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, Member, Conflicts of Interest Committee; San Antonio Chamber of Commerce Health Care Bioscience Committee Member; San Antonio Chamber of Commerce Health Care Economic Impact Study Committee, Member and past Chair. Women Healthcare Innovators
Healthcare Business Women’s Association (HBA) - Founder and President, San Antonio Chapter: Vice President of Mid-Atlantic Chapter, and Mentor to other Chapters. Deb is an Alumni of Leadership America. https://leadership-women.org/programs/america/ Deb is also a member of Women Business Leaders of the US Health Care Industry (WBL). Healthcare Industry
National Association for Specialty Pharmacy (NASP), and its Government Relations committee and Outcomes committee. Deb is also an active member of the Alliance for HCPCS II Coding Reform, advocating for transparency, and separation of the coverage and coding process, among other problematic issues. Deb is a 2017 graduate of the Capitol Speakers Club of Washington D.C. and an active Member.
In 2009 the San Antonio Business Journal honored Deb as a Healthcare Hero for her work in the community as a healthcare advocate.
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Michael Wells
Michael joined WHG January of 2015. Michael is the retired CEO and founder of EO2 Concepts, an advanced wound care technology company headquartered in San Antonio TX. Michael served on the Company’s board of directors since the Company was incorporated in May of 2007 until March of 2018. Michael also brings a rare combination of healthcare industry expertise coupled with more than 40 years of experience mastering the unique nuances of how healthcare policy and reimbursement methodologies are developed and implemented.
As a successful healthcare industry executive Mr. Wells understands the critical nature of developing solid predictable and sustainable reimbursement strategies - "...you need to get paid for services rendered.”
Michael has been involved in several reimbursement projects that have resulted in significant direct increases in stakeholder value.
One of the first remarks Mr. Wells emphasizes to new clients is to not overlook or underestimate crucial steps in the reimbursement approval process. Companies can miss critical analytics at the beginning of the 7-step reimbursement process focusing first on coding, then coverage and payment. Coding, coverage and payment pathways first require site of care specific, defined benefit categories.
During his healthcare career, Michael has held senior management positions with demonstrated expertise in business development, clinical and operations management, managed care, strategic marketing and planning, and financial leadership roles. Michael also holds wound care technology patents.
Michael’s tenure in healthcare, in addition to his role as CEO and founder of EO2 Concepts, includes positions with Baxter International, Apria Healthcare and Kinetic Concepts (KCI). At KCI Michael served as of Vice President and General Manager of KCI’s Homecare Division and played an integral role in the strategic development, launch and implementation of the NPWT-VAC wound care medical device that created a billion dollar industry.
In his senior leadership roles Michael also has participated in several public and private transactions. As a Result, Mr. Wells is uniquely positioned to provide M&A guidance in evaluating a transaction’s potential to help maximize stakeholder value.
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