Stela Elara K.
Sr Director, Payer Contracting (National) Head of Commercial & Workers\' Comp Contracts @Centre for Neuro Skills
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WORK HISTORY
Sr Director, Payer Contracting (National) Head of Commercial & Workers\' Comp Contracts @Centre for Neuro Skills
US
Lead enterprise-wide payer contracting strategy, negotiations, and relationship management for a national post-acute rehabilitation network. Partner with executive leadership to expand market access, optimize reimbursement structures, and position the organization as a leader in catastrophic brain injury rehabilitation.Direct high-stakes contract negotiations with commercial health plans and workers’ compensation payers, securing agreements that expand patient access and strengthen competitive positioning.Collaborate with business development, physician engagement, employer outreach, and clinical leadership to align payer partnerships with long-term growth and service delivery strategies.Advise the Chief Strategy Officer and senior executives on payer trends, contract optimization opportunities, and national expansion initiatives.Design innovative contracting models that improve financial performance and support adoption of specialized rehabilitation programs.Engage with policymakers and industry organizations to influence coverage policies and expand access to post-acute neurorehabilitation.Partner with internal R&D, clinical, and regulatory teams to integrate market access strategies into program design and operational planning.Represent the organization as a featured speaker at healthcare conferences, shaping industry dialogue on payer contracting and access in neurorehabilitation.
EDUCATION
University of Houston
Bachelor of Business Administration - BBA
Wharton Online
Bussiness Strategy Competetive Advantage
ABOUT STELA ELARA K.
Architects payer contracting strategies that drive market expansion, increase patient access, and position organizations as industry leaders across commercial health plans, Medicaid, and workers’ compensation networks. Leads national, multi-market negotiations that integrate value creation and value claiming, delivering agreements that strengthen competitive positioning, expand coverage in priority states, and improve reimbursement structures.Trusted advisor to the Chief Strategy Officer, COO, and CEO, operating at the intersection of strategy, operations, and contract execution. Oversees multi-state and national payer portfolios, managing high-stakes agreements that influence clinical access, financial sustainability, and long-term network growth. Applies Harvard Negotiation & Leadership principles to design contracts that align incentives, uncover integrative opportunities, and preserve payer relationships while advancing organizational leverage.Builds and leads cross-functional negotiation teams in collaboration with business development, policy, analytics, and operations leadership. Serves as an industry speaker on payer–provider dynamics, post-acute network expansion, and reimbursement optimization, ensuring the organization’s expertise shapes industry direction and payer policy. Selected to attend Harvard Law School’s Negotiation & Leadership Program (May 2025) to further enhance complex deal design capabilities for national payer agreements.
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