We are pleased to announce the appointment of Matt Kazan as Senior Vice President, Policy. In this vital role, he will lead our extensive healthcare policy team, a core part of our Advisory capability, in a landscape of profound policy and regulatory change.

Our Advisory capability has built a legacy as leading experts in federal and state policy, with our specialists including senior Capitol Hill, CMS, and FDA veterans. Matt will further the policy offering, equipping life sciences, health plan and provider clients with thoughtful strategies and analyses that transform uncertainty into opportunities to improve outcomes for EVERY PATIENT POSSIBLE.

Matt spent more than a decade on staff for the US Senate Committee on Finance, where he served as the leading advisor on major Medicare policy changes. He was involved in crafting the Affordable Care Act and the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018, among other major legislation. He previously served as Managing Director at Avalere Health and returns after serving as Vice President of Policy and Government Affairs at SCAN Health Plan.

“I’m delighted to welcome Matt back to Avalere Health. He’s an incredible thought leader with a talent for anticipating future policy activity and a vast knowledge of the fast-evolving healthcare landscape,” said Sarah Alwardt, President, Advisory. “With deep expertise in the complexities of CMS and a first-hand knowledge of the Inflation Reduction Act, he is ideally positioned to support our clients in unlocking possibilities for every patient in a tumultuous US healthcare landscape.”

Central to Matt’s role is driving collaboration between the Policy team and the Advisory capability’s market access, evidence and value, due diligence, and access marketing teams. Beyond this, Matt will work closely with our Medical and Marketing leaders to ensure every strategy is infused with a deep understanding of the impact of political changes on healthcare stakeholders.

“I’m thrilled to return to Avalere Health to lead our Policy team. The talent on the team is exceptional – we have some of the brightest minds in the industry. The policy landscape has become incredibly complex and critical to all important business decisions,” Matt said. “I can’t wait to collaborate closely with our Medical and Marketing colleagues, ensuring policy continues to be the thread uniting our strategies. Our model is truly one-of-a-kind: three powerful capabilities with an unmatched view of the healthcare landscape, delivering unified strategies built around what matters most – ensuring life-changing products reach every patient, everywhere.”

Matt’s announcement comes on the heels of another leadership move from our Advisory team: the elevation of public health expert Laura Housman, DrPH, MBA, MPH, to Chief Public Health Officer (CPHO). In this role, Laura will tighten the link between brand strategy and public health – an increasingly critical connection as legislative changes reshape how manufacturers engage patients.

In addition to her new role as CPHO, Laura will continue to serve as Senior Vice President and Practice Director for our Advisory capability’s evidence and strategy team. Prior to joining Avalere Health, Laura played key roles at several public companies, Exact Sciences, and Novartis. She is also a reviewer for the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute, an adjunct faculty member for the Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research, American Public Health Association, the Massachusetts Public Health Association, and the National DrPH Association.

“Matt and Laura are two exceptional leaders representing some of the most promising minds in healthcare. We’re privileged to have them as part of the Avalere Health team,” said Amar Urhekar, CEO. “Profound changes to the political landscape are shaping every element of healthcare, from how drugs are priced and distributed to the very foundations of how we communicate with patients. With Matt and Laura’s leadership, we are supporting our clients to not only navigate the landscape, but to uncover unexpected opportunities to truly reach EVERY PATIENT POSSIBLE.”