Nationally Recognized Advisor on Health Care Reimbursement and Payment Policy Joins DC Office

WASHINGTON, DC – DECEMBER 21, 2011 – Arent Fox LLP announced today that Edward J. Dougherty has joined the firm as a senior health policy advisor in the firm’s Washington, DC, office.

As a member of Arent Fox’s health care practice group, Ed will advise medical device, pharmaceutical, diagnostics, biologics and biotech companies in developing and implementing strategies to secure appropriate coverage and value-based reimbursement for both novel technologies and mature products.

“Ed brings a critically important set of skills, experience, and connections to Arent Fox's already-strong Life Sciences team,” said Lisa Estrada, chair of the firm's national health care practice group. “Only a handful of firms have the range of integrated services necessary to help industry clients navigate the complex US regulatory and payment environment. With Ed's arrival, Arent Fox joins that select group.”

“Ed's experience with evidence development, strategic planning and payment advocacy will provide clients with tools needed to overcome hurdles with both government and commercial payers to ensure appropriate coverage and payment for their products. This is increasingly important as clients prepare to engage the current, dynamic US health care reimbursement environment, marked by major shifts toward more managed care, integrated service delivery, and other reimbursement models," Ms. Estrada said. “His knowledge of evidence planning, payer interaction, coverage, coding, and payment, together with the firm's intellectual property, corporate, international trade and food and drug practices, puts Arent Fox in position to take clients seamlessly from concept to market.”

“I am very happy to be a part of the team,” said Mr. Dougherty. “Arent Fox is a leader in health care, health policy and food and drug law. Its reputation for innovation, professionalism, and service provides a national platform from which we can represent clients’ interests and recommend strategic solutions.”

Before joining Arent Fox, Ed worked as a senior vice president for a national health care advisory and advocacy firm. Prior to this, he directed prospective study design and strategic marketing activities for a Fortune 40 pharmaceutical services company. Ed led the strategic consulting group within the medical marketing division of a global contract research organization and coordinated outcomes research and reimbursement support activities for a major health care consulting firm.

He is a regular speaker at health care reimbursement conferences in the United States, the European Union and in Latin America, and is published in the peer-reviewed literature.

Mr. Dougherty earned his MS degree at Georgetown University in Washington, DC, and his undergraduate degree at Fordham University in New York. He also holds an MA from the Weston School of Theology in Cambridge, Massachusetts and a Diplome du Professorat from the Institut Catholique de Paris in France.