Dot Powell-Woodson
Partner – Wiley Rein LLP
Co-Chair Health Car Practice
Executive and Management Committee Member
Description of field of expertise
Dot Powell-Woodson’s career and experience reflect exemplary service as a critical thought leader and strategic problem solver to those at the highest levels of Corporate America (Chief Legal Officers, CEOs, CFOs, and other C-Suite Executives), of Government (Governor, Attorney General, Cabinet Officials, and Agency Heads), and in law firm management (as a member of the firm’s two governance committees – the Executive Committee and the Management Committee).
Dot currently serves as Co-Chair of the firm’s Health Care Practice and in this role counsels clients on matters that sit at the intersection of health care, government contracting, and statutory/regulatory compliance.
Dot’s practice focuses on all major government health care programs (including Medicare, Medicaid, the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program, and TRICARE), and on federal statutory and regulatory requirements applicable both to government and commercial health care offerings (e.g., the Affordable Care Act, the HIPAA Administrative Simplification regulations, the HITECH Act, the federal health care Anti-Kickback Act, the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, the Inflation Reduction Act, etc.).
A significant component of Dot’s current practice is concentrated on government health care procurements and contracting, contract administration, and state and federal regulatory compliance relating to complex prime, subcontract, and affiliate agreements. While her work in this area includes contracts for dental, vision, disease management, behavioral health, telehealth, and various consumer tools, the core of her practice is devoted to developing and negotiating complex contracts for pharmacy benefits. With regard to her PBM experience, Dot has developed and negotiated contracts with all major PBMs for retail, mail order, and specialty drug programs and also has assisted clients with direct rebate contracting and contracting for medical rebates.
What advice would you offer to new attorneys interested in your field?
It is important to approach your legal career with intentionality and a commitment to lifelong learning. Take the time to truly grasp your clients’ business goals and the intricacies of the matters you handle. Understanding the operational hurdles your clients encounter allows you to offer practical legal counsel. To foster your professional growth, actively pursue leadership roles, engage with industry associations, raise your hand for demanding projects, seek mentors, and embrace constructive criticism. These efforts will position you as an indispensable asset to your firm and your clients.
Final thoughts…
As Health Care Practice Co-Chair and member of our firm’s Executive and Management Committees, I champion leveraging diversity as our strength. Leaders must recruit, mentor, and advocate for attorneys from underrepresented backgrounds, recognizing that diverse perspectives yield exceptional client outcomes.