Kate Leeson is a senior policy advisor in the firm's Public Policy & Regulation Group, where her practice is focused on federal relations, advocacy and policy on healthcare issues. A member of the firm's national Healthcare & Life Sciences Team, which has over 45 members, she has extensive experience working on behalf of hospital and health systems' Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement issues in previous senior government relations positions. Prior to these positions, Ms. Leeson spent several years handling healthcare issues in the United States House of Representatives. She also provides strategic planning and advocacy assistance to other healthcare clients on a broad range of legislative and regulatory matters.
Ms. Leeson has considerable background advocating on behalf of hospitals and health systems having spent 4 years leading the advocacy efforts of the National Association of Public Hospitals and Health Systems. During this time, she secured increased Medicaid disproportionate share hospital (DSH) funding for safety net hospitals and designed the federal legislative and regulatory advocacy strategy responsible for blocking more than $7 billion in proposed Medicaid cuts to public and teaching hospitals. Prior to this position, she worked for four years as the Vice President of Federal Relations for the Massachusetts and Tennessee Hospitals Associations as their Washington-based lobbyist.
Ms. Leeson represents hospital systems and hospital associations on federal policy issues with a particular focus on preparing her clients for the current debate over healthcare reform. In addition, she possesses an in-depth knowledge of the Medicaid and Medicare programs and is accomplished in securing improved reimbursement through these programs for healthcare providers. She is an experienced advocate on numerous other healthcare issues and programs including the 340B Drug Discount Program, graduate medical education, health information technology, workforce and rehabilitative medicine.
Ms. Leeson spent several years on Capitol Hill as a healthcare legislative assistant to Representative Marty Meehan (D-MA). Previously, she worked for Deloitte's Integrated Health Group as a consultant where she focused her work assisting employers and health insurers with benefit program redesign.