Our leadership team
Melinna (Giannini) Spillman, CEO
Melinna is an original founder of Alternative Link, Inc. (DBA ABC Coding Solutions) in 1998. Her background in health insurance, employer-sponsored health plans, preferred provider network development, third party administration and claims data analysis led to early acceptance of ABC codes by a Colorado HMO, an auto accident adjudication company, the National Library of Medicine's Unified Medical Language System, the American Nurses Association, the National Association of Women Legislators, and the Kaiser Foundation by 2000 - which caused ABC codes to be named as a potential standard when HHS published its Proposed Rule for Code Sets and Transactions in early 2000. While ABC codes were not named in the Final Rule published in late 2000, the people and organizations supporting ABC codes had mushroomed to thousands of practitioners writing to Health and Human Secretary, Tommy Thompson, asking that ABC codes be added.
HHS Secretary, Tommy Thompson, authorized testing of ABC codes as a potential addition to standard code sets in January of 2003. Over 10,000 entities registered to participate in the testing by March 31, 2003 - including 11 states, 27 insurance organizations, 400+ hospitals and thousands of clinicians. Melinna decided to focus the company on collecting data from an Alaska Medicaid behavioral health program and a New Mexico Medicare HMO. These two sites reported over 50% savings using ABC codes in over 2 million transactions between 2004-2007. Unfortunately, CMS did not recommended the adoption of ABC Codes to new Secretary of HHS, Michael Leavitt, not adopt ABC codes.
Melinna continues to find new ways to use ABC codes electronically. She spoke at the National Press Club in 2008 on Revolutionizing Healthcare, helped develop coding for the Department of Defense between 2007-2009, helped get national coverage for religious non-medical nursing homes between 2009-2015, helped a large employer in Massachusetts save over 30% in premium charges and she has personally kept ABC Coding Solutions funded since 2010.
Margaret Hampton, DACM, President
Margaret Hampton is a seasoned healthcare executive, entrepreneur, and integrative-care advocate dedicated to advancing high-quality, accessible, and cost-effective healthcare solutions. As President of ABC Coding Solutions, she oversees strategic growth. Margaret brings more than two decades of leadership experience at the intersection of clinical operations, practice management, and emerging models of whole-person care. Her work focuses on closing gaps in coverage for integrative, functional, and non-physician services that play a critical role in chronic care management and patient well-being.
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In addition to her role with ABC Coding Solutions, Margaret is the owner of Empowered Wellness, a Colorado-based integrative health practice committed to restorative, patient-centered care. Through Empowered Wellness, she has championed evidence-informed approaches that combine functional nutrition, lifestyle medicine, and individualized therapeutic interventions to help patients achieve sustainable health improvements.
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Margaret is also a partner in Helios of Colorado, a collaborative venture with an MD and nurse practitioner focused on advancing community-based wellness programs and innovative care delivery models. Her work with Helios reflects her broader commitment to aligning clinical practice, data infrastructure, and health policy to improve outcomes for individuals, families, and communities. She has also served on the board of directors of the Integrative Healthcare Policy Consortium and the Culturally Based Care Committee of Denver, CO.
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Across all of her roles, Margaret is recognized for her operational rigor, strategic foresight, and unwavering belief that accessible, integrative care is essential to resolving the nation’s growing chronic disease burden. She is a driving force behind the movement to modernize healthcare coding and expand the nation’s capacity to support non-physician, whole-person care.
Dwight Thevenot, Chief Operations Officer
Dwight Thevenot is the Chief Operations Officer of ABC Coding Solutions, bringing operational discipline, strategic execution, and a strong commitment to innovation in healthcare administration. Dwight oversees day-to-day operations, project management, and organizational performance across the company’s expanding national initiatives to modernize coding, reimbursement, and data standards for non-physician and integrative care.
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With extensive experience in systems implementation, operational leadership, and cross-functional coordination, Dwight ensures that ABC Coding Solutions maintains the infrastructure, responsiveness, and reliability required to support health plans, provider networks, and technology partners. His leadership strengthens the company’s ability to scale ABC codes as a trusted, high-value component of U.S. healthcare interoperability.
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Dwight is known for his pragmatic management style, his commitment to operational excellence, and his ability to align teams around mission-critical priorities. His work plays a central role in advancing ABC Coding Solutions’ mission to expand access, reduce costs, and improve the quality of care nationwide. He and his wife are also a Veterans who support many local Veteran organizations to help Veterans in their journey to wellness.
