Breakaway's Sophisticated, Customized Counsel Helps Clients Thrive Amid Change
BURLINGTON, Mass. – inVentiv Health, offering best-in-class clinical, commercial and consulting services, today announced the launch of its new policy arm, Breakaway Policy Strategies, a joint venture between inVentiv and the partners of Mehlman Vogel Castagnetti, a leading, bipartisan lobbying firm.
Breakaway helps companies address the diverse challenges posed by a nationwide healthcare system being reshaped by increasing government regulation and dramatic shifts in the private healthcare market. The firm provides strategic analysis and policy guidance to help healthcare stakeholders navigate transformative changes arising from decisions made daily by Federal and state policymakers.
Changes already underway include the emergence of Accountable Care Organizations, Health Insurance Exchanges and bundled payment arrangements. Additional changes will take effect next year, leading to dramatic expansions of health coverage for American consumers and increasing government influence over hospitals, health plans, employers, doctors, patients, employers, biopharmaceutical firms, and device companies.
"Now more than ever, clients must have a sophisticated understanding of the sweeping changes taking place in America's healthcare system," said Paul Meister, CEO of inVentiv Health. "Navigating this new landscape requires seasoned experts with historical knowledge, a deep understanding of political context, and the ability to anticipate what's next. Through Breakaway, we offer experts with an unmatched level of health policy expertise."
The collaboration expands inVentiv's presence in Washington, D.C. and enhances its broad portfolio of services. For Breakaway, the investment enables an expansion of research capabilities and the addition of top-notch talent.
Breakaway's team combines extensive experience in the public sector with equally deep private sector expertise. The team has extensive know-how in private health insurance markets, private programs in Medicare and Medicaid, and emerging delivery models. Drawing on all this experience, Breakaway delivers unparalleled analysis, strategic solutions and practical advice to guide clients through changes in how healthcare will be delivered, consumed and paid for.
Dean Rosen, one of the nation's top policy experts and former health policy director for Senate Majority Leader William H. Frist, will serve as Breakaway's President and Chief Executive Officer. While working with Frist, Rosen helped shepherd through Congress The Medicare Prescription Drug Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003. He also played a major role in advancing many other major health reform laws during his career in public service, including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and The Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Act. Rosen also was Senior VP of Policy and General Counsel at Health Insurance Association of America, and worked on the House Ways and Means Committee. He will continue in his role as a partner at Mehlman Vogel Castagnetti.
"Federal and state policymakers are reshaping the future of healthcare daily," said Rosen. "No matter what policies are written or how healthcare may change, Breakaway understands policy details, knows the decision makers, and is closely connected to the system in which these decisions are taking place."
Breakaway closely tracks policy developments at the state and federal level, providing timely, comprehensive reports, including the Weekly Breakdown Newsletter, the Monthly Affordable Care Act (ACA) Implementation Guide, and in-depth analysis of topics such as Medicare Physician Payment Reform. Beyond comprehensive research, Breakaway's approach to policy analysis provides strategies for the real world, tailored to individual client challenges.
Joining Rosen at Breakaway is Rick Smith, former Executive Vice President for Policy and Research at the Pharmaceutical Researchers and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) and Vice President for Research and Policy at America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP). Also on board is Margaret Nowak, former head of policy at Walgreens, Medicare analyst at the Congressional Budget Office and Director at Avalere Health. Colette Desmarais, a former top staffer for Senator Charles Grassley (R-IA) and Deputy Director at AHIP's Public Programs Policy Unit, also is part of the Breakaway team. Complementing this team is an extended staff of lawyers, budget analysts, specialists in government programs, and health policy experts who can swiftly assist stakeholders in navigating new models, rules and regulations.
Breakaway's services complement those of inVentiv Health's premier public relations firm, Chandler Chicco Companies, the world's largest pure-play healthcare communications group. Chandler Chicco recently appointed Heather Gartman as its new D.C. office head. A two-decade public relations veteran, Gartman was previously at Ruder Finn and Zeno Group.
When coupled with inVentiv's clinical, market access, adherence and communications expertise, Breakaway can design strategic solutions to help clients with policies that impact reimbursement, access to products and improved patient outcomes.
About Breakaway Policy
Since the beginning of 2013, Breakaway has been providing analytical support and strategic counsel to Fortune 500 health care companies, as well as health care trade associations and foundations. A health policy joint venture between inVentiv Health and the partners of the bipartisan lobbying firm Mehlman Vogel Castagnetti, Breakaway provides research, analysis, practical advice, and strategic solutions to help a wide range of healthcare stakeholders navigate the transformative changes taking place in today's healthcare market. Breakaway offers health strategy and research for the real world. For more information, visit http://www.BreakawayPolicy.com.
Mehlman Vogel Castagnetti is a DC.-based, bipartisan strategic government affairs firm that helps a wide range of entities, including health care providers, physicians, biopharmaceutical companies, and health plans, achieve their objectives in the nation's capital.
About inVentiv Health
inVentiv Health, Inc. is a leading global provider of best-in-class clinical, commercial and consulting services to the life sciences industry. inVentiv offers convergent services that accelerate the performance of companies working to improve human life. In 40 countries around the world, inVentiv's 12,000 employees work with more than 550 pharmaceutical, biotech and device companies, as well as companies that see health as a central part of their mission. inVentiv Health, Inc. is privately owned by inVentiv Group Holdings, Inc., an organization sponsored by affiliates of Thomas H. Lee Partners, L.P., Liberty Lane Partners and members of the inVentiv management team. inVentiv Health helps clients transform promising ideas into commercial reality. For more information, visit http://www.inventivhealth.com.
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