A Quarter Century of Purpose: A Conversation with Aleksandr Romanychev, CEO of WCH 

As we launch our 25th anniversary celebration, we sat down with Aleksandr to explore the journey that shaped us, the moments that defined us, and the vision that continues to push us forward. 

Take us back to the beginning. What sparked the idea to start this company? 

I was working as a manager in a medical office, in line with my education. I loved the work, but there was this pull to build something of my own. Something useful. At the time, billing was the biggest pain point for doctors. And honestly? It still is. Doctors were—and are—pulled away from their patients by constant billing frustrations. That’s where we came in. 

I started small, just working with doctors I knew personally. But word spread, and WCH grew. We are delighted to know that our earliest clients are still with us today. 

What kept you up at night in those early days? 

I don’t really think in terms of challenges or obstacles. Sure, I have normal human fears—worrying about family and loved ones. But professionally? My only real fear has been letting down the people who believe in me. However, I wouldn’t even call that a fear—it’s more of a driving force. 

Every company has pivotal moments. What were yours? 

Several come to mind. One was when Olga Khabinskay joined us. Today she’s our Director of Operations—a true expert, a speaker, a leader. But back then, she was this young woman with something special: an insatiable hunger to learn and grow, and this incredible dedication. 

Shortly before a challenging period for me personally, she joined the team, at a time when I was managing health issues and was required to step back. Suddenly, the entire business was on her shoulders. And she carried it.  

Another turning point was our decision to observe Shabbat. I honestly didn’t know how we’d make it work—we had doctors who operated on Saturdays. But there’s this saying: If a person takes one step toward God, He takes ten steps toward him. We tried it. Our doctors wrote to say they respected the decision. And after that? The company’s growth became almost tangible. 

Then there was opening our Uzbekistan office. Other billing companies followed our lead, but most just outsourced the work. We took a different approach. We don’t open offices to cut costs—we do it to invest in people. We pour resources into education and professional development. Now those same team members are leading AAPC chapter development across Central Asia. They’ve earned that trust through expertise. 

In an industry that never stops changing, what’s your secret to longevity? 

It’s the exceptional professionalism of the people who work in our company. It sounds simple, but it’s true. We’ve built a team of loyal, dedicated professionals. Many have been with us from the very beginning. Our goal was never just to extract value from doctors—it was to genuinely help them. I think our clients sense that. 

How has the company evolved over 25 years? 

We’ve changed and yet… we haven’t. I love that paradox. We’ve become highly sophisticated—our team’s expertise in billing, auditing, and credentialing is exceptional. We’ve grown technologically in ways most companies don’t. 

Many of us have literally grown up in this company, and turnover is nearly nonexistent.  

We’ve become more corporate, but that’s only natural with so many employees. 

How do you maintain culture as you scale? 

Through authentic leadership. Our managers aren’t just titles on an org chart—they are working professionals who carry additional responsibility. The IT department manager remains an active IT specialist while managing the team, and the supervisor of the billing department still does billing. They understand exactly what issues their teams face. This creates an environment where people feel comfortable speaking up, asking for help, and sharing ideas. 

Leadership here is accessible. We’re all just people working together toward something bigger than ourselves. 

What are you most proud of? 

Everything, honestly. I can’t isolate one achievement. Every step matters—even the mistakes. We built this through hard work, and you can’t do that without stumbling sometimes. The only people who never fail are people who never try. Each mistake taught us something invaluable. 

Tell us about the Trusted Biller Program. What’s driving that initiative? 

This is what we’re working on right now—our new initiative—and I’m hopeful it will succeed. Medicare is disconnected from individual practices. They don’t see what happens inside medical offices, and they don’t understand the challenges honest doctors face. So, they create broad rules that dishonest actors game while ethical providers struggle. 

We want to build a bridge. The Trusted Biller Program would identify doctors with proven integrity and excellent billing practices—doctors Medicare can trust. 

This matters because hospitals keep swallowing private practices, stripping doctors of autonomy. I am absolutely certain that doctors chose their profession to treat patients, not to be buried in paperwork. This isn’t just about doctor-patient relationships anymore—it’s about fixing the system. And to fix it, you need to be part of it. 

What’s your vision for the next decade? 

Two things. First, continued technological growth—we’re never done innovating there. We are developing our own AI, one that I hope will become an important technology in the future, accelerating and enhancing our work. 

Second, becoming truly embedded in the healthcare system. Right now, billing companies are like beads on a string. My vision has always been about more—about making the world a better place. I want us to be part of the string itself, influencing the system from within. The AAPC chapter that our employees helped develop is one example. We are constantly getting involved in various initiatives, and we plan to continue doing so.  

After 25 years, what still gets you excited to come to work? 

The mission. Helping doctors focus on healing instead of forms. And the people, our team, who believe in this vision and grows alongside it. 

What would you tell aspiring entrepreneurs? 

Two things guarantee success. First, real professionalism—not surface knowledge, but deep expertise. Second, humanity. Understanding that people—your employees, your partners—matter more than profit margins. Get those right, and everything else follows. 

If you could whisper advice to yourself 25 years ago, what would you say? 

With hindsight, sure, I could have avoided some mistakes. We might have grown faster. But I wouldn’t change anything. Every stumble taught us something. Every challenge made us stronger. I’m grateful for all of it—and incredibly proud of what we’ve built together. 

As we embark on our 25th anniversary celebration, we’re reminded that success isn’t measured in years or revenue alone. It’s measured in the practices we’ve supported, the employees we’ve empowered, and the system we’re helping to improve. Here’s to 25 more years of growth, innovation, and making healthcare work better for everyone.