Change in NASP Government Relations Representation
After careful consideration and deliberation, the NASP Board of Directors has elected to make a change in our Government Relations Representation strategy. The Board opted not to extend our agreement with the McManus Group which expired on 12/31/17 and has contracted with The District Policy Group (DPG) at Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP to provide Government Relations Representation and Related Advocacy and Public Policy Support services for 2018.
The District Policy Group is housed within Drinker Biddle, a large national law firm with more than 700 lawyers and senior professionals in 12 offices across the U.S. and an office in London. In 2016, Chambers USA recognized 69 Drinker Biddle attorneys and 13 practices in the firm as leaders in their field, and the American Bar Association has recognized the firm as a “Top 10 Health Law Firm.” In 2015 and 2016, The Hill ranked Ilisa Halpern Paul, District Policy Group President, among its Top Lobbyists.
As a practice group within the law firm, the DPG team works closely with their attorney‐colleagues on client matters, providing government relations representation and policy insight with a particular focus on the health care, trade, environment, agriculture, and financial services arenas. Currently, the majority of their clients are health‐related organizations with a concentrated focus on health professional societies, patient advocacy groups, and non‐profit provider associations.
DPG’s mission is to provide full‐service federal government relations representation to non‐profit trade associations, health care providers, patient advocacy organizations, private companies, and others engaged in activities that improve the health and well‐being of individuals, families, communities, the nation, and the world. Their bipartisan team consists of 15 lobbyists, health policy specialists, grassroots and advocacy coordinators, and other government relations professionals with broad and deep experience in a range of issues, with particular expertise and a record of success in helping clients advance their federal public policy goals by developing strong and fruitful relationships with federal legislative and regulatory policymakers. Each of their senior team members has more than 20 years of experience successfully influencing the outcomes of federal health policy in the legislative, regulatory, political, budget, appropriations, advocacy, and public policy spheres. Please see: http://www.districtpolicygroup.com for more information.
DPG will work closely with Jayson Slotnik, NASP’s Regulatory and Health Policy Advisor and longstanding strategic partner to deliver comprehensive, coordinated Government Relations Services including:
- Representation and Lobbying on Capitol Hill
- Representation with CMS
- Policy Guidance
- Public Relations and External Communications
Please join me in thanking the McManus Group for all of their work on our behalf in 2017 and in welcoming The District Policy Group to NASP. DPG is excited to bring their expertise to bear to the benefit of NASP and welcomes the opportunity to collaborate with NASP to help secure support for – and boost the recognition of –specialty pharmacy, NASP, and its members.
Please do not hesitate to reach out to me with any questions or concerns you may have.
Thank you for your continued support of NASP, specialty pharmacy practice and the patients we collectively serve.
With my very best,
Sheila M. Arquette, RPH
Executive Director
National Association of Specialty Pharmacy
SArquette@naspnet.org