Campaign 2016: Politics, Polling, and Policy
What do the latest polls really mean? Will the latest campaign strategies really work? Who’s most likely to win? An advisor to three presidential campaigns, David Merritt brings an experienced insider’s view to the very latest from the 2016 elections – from the race for the White House to battleground Senate seats to the most important state elections. Politics, polling, and policy – it’s all covered. This is beyond just who’s up and who’s down . . . you’ll walk away with an intimate – and entertaining – understanding of the key elections, what the latest developments really mean, and how the future the political landscape may impact your organization.
Political Communication: What the Campaigns are Saying and What the Public Wants to Hear
We’ve seen it all before. The personal attacks . . . the counter-punches . . . the debates . . . the ad wars. An effective political message can change the dynamics of an election instantly – but so can an ineffective one. Who’s the best messenger? What are the issues that resonate the most with voters? Which ads have made an impact? David Merritt, an advisor to three presidential campaigns and experienced political strategist, brings an insider’s understanding to the 2016 elections and how polling, messaging, and communication are shaping the key races.
Healthcare Uncertainty: Value, Patients, and Politics
You’ve heard it all before … value, quality, patient-centered care, health IT, the ACA. But how it all fits together is as complicated and confusing as ever. What is the most likely future for the Affordable Care Act? What do patients really think about accountable care? How are providers, payers, and others driving and reacting to significant market changes? This session will explore the intersection of policy, politics, patients, and polling – and the critical transformation from volume to value – to present a clear and compelling view of what’s on the healthcare horizon.
The Affordable Care Act: What’s Happened, What’s Next, What You Need to Know
More than five years later, through celebrated successes and front-page controversies, the genuine impact of the Affordable Care Act is still unknown. Will expanded coverage lead to challenges with access to care? Will costs remain relatively stable or will they return to their more typical trends? How will healthcare continue to shape the political landscape? In this engaging and entertaining discussion, David Merritt explains the very latest developments in Washington and in the states so you can walk away with a clear understanding of what the future holds for the Affordable Care Act.
Collaboration: The Next Frontier of Human Productivity
Collaboration is the cornerstone of our business. We believe collaborative endeavors inspire creativity, produce superior ideas and lead to greater innovations. We share with audiences the keys to collaboration and offer real-life examples of how to collaborate well.
Nexus of Health Care and the Economy
We face the reality of a global economy, growing debt and rising health care costs. Leavitt Partners shares with audiences collaborative, high value intelligence that will help audiences understand that when we talk about health care reform, we are really talking about the economic future of our country.
Future of Medicare
Compassion is part of the American ethos, but if we don’t fix Medicare we compromise our ability to care for seniors in the future. We share with audiences what the problems are and share ideas on how to fix this important program.
Accountable Care Movement
Leavitt Partners is home to a large and detailed database of accountable care organizations. We track regional and national trends in emerging care delivery systems and analyze what it means to the future of American health care.
Medicaid Expansion
Leavitt Partners stays abreast of the very latest intelligence regarding Medicaid expansion under the provisions of the Affordable Care Act. We can share with audiences the very latest intelligence about 1115 waivers, CMS guidance, CMS flexibility in benefit design and other critical Medicaid expansion uncertainties.
David Merritt is a sought-after speaker, author, and health care adviser. He currently serves as Executive Vice President of Public Affairs and Strategy at America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP). He leads the health insurance industry's communications and coalitions, advocacy and strategy on issues ranging from the Affordable Care Act and Medicare to prescription drug costs and value.
He has a proven track record in policy, politics, and the press. He was a Managing Director for Frank Luntz at Luntz Global Partners, one of America’s best-known and most respected public opinion and strategic communication shops, leading the firm’s political and policy strategy and research in 2014 and 2016. His work has made a genuine impact in American politics.
Previously, he was Partner and Managing Director at Leavitt Partners, the healthcare consulting firm led by former HHS Secretary and Utah Governor Mike Leavitt. He led the firm’s Washington, D.C. office, advising clients on a wide range of issues, including the Affordable Care Act and Washington politics.
He was the leading fundraiser and a presidential campaign adviser to former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich. He worked closely with Speaker Gingrich for more than seven years, including as CEO of the Center for Health Transformation. He was also a health policy adviser to the 2008 presidential campaigns of Senator John McCain and former Senator Fred Thompson.
In addition to national TV and radio appearances, he is widely quoted in national media and his writing has been widely published, including opinion columns in the Wall Street Journal and USA Today.
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