The finalists for WashingtonExec’s Chief Officer Awards were announced March 17, and we’ll be highlighting some of them until the event takes place live, in-person May 10.
Next is CEO finalist in the Private Company >$1B category Paul Saleh, president and CEO of Gainwell Technologies. Here, he talks about how the company supports the nation’s healthcare services, a mindset for success and more.
What is your best career advice for those who want to follow in your footsteps?
Be a student of the business. Know your industry, business and what truly matters to your customers. Seek out experts in your field, ask questions and learn from them. Feedback is one of the most valuable gifts you can receive. Become an agile learner and soak in everything you can that adds value to your customers.
Take on roles that challenge or even scare you. The best career moves I made were the ones that took me out of my comfort zone. I had to learn quickly, fail quickly and pivot quickly. That is how you will grow your career.
Don’t let your title define you. Regardless of your title or role, you can always broaden your sphere of influence. Dive in and be a problem-solver who delivers value. Opportunities come to people who use their ingenuity and talents to help others succeed.
Build life-long relationships. Throughout my career, I have had the good fortune to build a strong network of people I admire and respect. Invest time in your relationships and give back more than you receive.
What are your primary focus areas going forward, and why are those so important to the future of the nation?
One primary focus area for Gainwell is to help states drive down the skyrocketing cost of prescription drugs. For example, in Ohio, Gainwell became the state’s single pharmacy benefit manager for Ohio Medicaid’s more than $3 billion pharmacy program.
We are working closely with the state and pharmacies to ensure Medicaid members have more pharmacy choices, fewer out-of-network restrictions and consistent benefits. Gainwell is also helping the state further strengthen its program integrity by using claims analytics to root out fraud, waste and abuse.
Gainwell also implemented a first-of-its-kind, cloud-based system to administer the state’s groundbreaking program. This complex, comprehensive platform was deployed in a record 18 months, enabling Ohio to usher in a new era of pharmacy transparency.
Ohio’s bold leadership sets the standard for state Medicaid programs and offers a blueprint for other states seeking full transparency and accountability on the true costs of drugs.
What are you most proud of having been a part of in your current organization?
Nothing gives me more pride than seeing the Gainwell team bring our mission to life. We help protect and serve our nation’s Medicaid program, which provides quality healthcare to more than 90 million vulnerable people, including over 41 million children.
Our flexible, cloud-based solutions and cutting-edge Medicaid platform power the administration and operations of health and human services programs. Our technology enables our clients to adapt quickly to state and federal healthcare policy changes.
The numbers tell our story. Last year alone, Gainwell processed $1.1 billion in claims, saved state Medicaid agencies $5.5 billion and answered nearly six million calls from Medicaid members and healthcare providers.
Behind these numbers are more than 11,000 people who care deeply about ensuring quality, affordable healthcare is always there for those who need it most.