Debbie Witchey

Debbie Witchey became President and CEO of the Association for Behavioral Health and Wellness (ABHW) in 2024. ABHW member companies provide mental health and substance use disorder coverage to more than 200 million Americans across the public and private sectors. Under her leadership, ABHW has expanded its advocacy, thought leadership, and stakeholder collaboration to advance quality and access in behavioral health.

A recognized behavioral health policy leader, Debbie is a frequent speaker and moderator at national conferences and industry forums, bringing together stakeholders to address critical behavioral health challenges.

Debbie began her career working on a presidential campaign before serving in leadership roles at the U.S. Treasury Department, a South Carolina health system, and the Healthcare Leadership Council, where she spent more than 20 years and helped lead coalitions that secured passage and were instrumental in the implementation of the Medicare prescription drug benefit and key provisions of the CARES Act, to name a few.

She holds degrees from Duke University and the Medical University of South Carolina, serves as adjunct faculty at Duke University’s Sanford School of Public Policy, and chairs the URAC Health Standards Committee. She currently leads a women’s service club and is a long-time member of the Women Business Leaders of the U.S. Health Care Industry Foundation. She also fosters dogs for Lab Rescue.