NATIONAL BIPARTISAN HEALTHCARE
MEET
Darren Patz
BACKGROUND
Darren Patz created Patz Government Strategies in early 2023. He is a healthcare lawyer and national government affairs expert who adds value to his clients' businesses via the lobbying and legislative processes. Darren built a remarkable federal and state government affairs program for the national healthcare company, Pediatrix Medical Group (f/k/a Mednax), a publicly traded company based in South Florida (NYSE:MD). While at Pediatrix, he also led the government affairs program for American Anesthesiology, Inc. and MEDNAX Radiology. Darren worked his way to become senior management at the company, serving as its Senior Vice President and Chief Government Affairs Officer, prior to departing as a full-time employee in 2023.
RESULTS-DRIVEN
Darren and his network of lobbyists have won hundreds of millions of dollars in additional government funding to businesses over the past 10 years, in addition to mitigating the impact of harmful legislation. With master-level knowledge of state and federal healthcare laws and policy, including Obamacare, the No Surprises Act, Health IT and healthcare financing, such as Medicare and Medicaid programs, Darren was recognized by multiple CEOs as building and running “the best Government Affairs team in the country; they are the company’s secret weapon”.
"Darren and I have worked closely together for years. His deep personal knowledge and close relationships with key leaders are crucial in advocacy work. Darren has the experience and capability to successfully navigate what can be a daunting path in Washington and elsewhere. We've had many meaningful wins (and saves) over the years under his leadership. He is a great partner."
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- David A. Clark, CEO, Eye Care Partners, Inc. A Partners Group, Portfolio Company
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"I've known Darren for more than ten years, and we worked closely together at Mednax National Medical Group. He is very knowledgeable about healthcare policy and understands how regulations and legislation impact businesses. He relates well to elected officials, as well as physicians and business leaders. Darren is forward-thinking and able to create effective intermediate and long-term strategies. He is ethical, hard-working, and a real asset to any healthcare organization."
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- Emil Engels, MD, CEO, Aligned Orthopedic Partners, An Atlantic Street Capital, Portfolio Company
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WHO WE HELP
Private Equity Firms, Publicly Traded Healthcare Companies & Healthcare Portfolio Companies
As a healthcare lawyer and executive who has lobbied directly in dozens of states throughout the country, Darren has a unique skill set in addressing the business needs of healthcare organizations via the legislative and regulatory processes. As the most regulated industry in the United States, healthcare companies will always have a need to address and monitor state and federal legislation impacting their businesses.
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Trusted, persuasive, and diplomatic, Darren serves as a business advisor to Boards of Directors and Executive Leadership Teams.
OUR NETWORK
At the State and Federal Level
STATE
For the past 10 years, Darren has gained numerous important state legislative wins annually, generating several hundred million dollars in increased state funding for his clients. Each of these victories has benefitted patient communities in need of healthcare. He has been a driving force behind blockading harmful state legislative proposals, which would have been detrimental to the business needs and operations of his clients. He has a deep network around the country with relationships with State Level Speakers, Appropriations Chairs, Finance Chairs, Senators, and Governors’ Chiefs of Staff.
FEDERAL
As a registered lobbyist, Darren built an exceptional federal government affairs program over the past 15 years consisting of top-tier lobbying in the House of Representatives, the Senate, and executive branch agencies. Darren has contacts in Congressional offices and has worked with multiple Secretaries of Health and Human Services and other CMS and HHS employees who report directly and indirectly to the Secretary. Darren has successfully lobbied on every major healthcare law over the past 15 years, including the Affordable Care Act (“Obamacare”), the HITECH Act/Stimulus, the CARES Act and the No Surprises Act. He can provide expert legal services and continuing legal/ lobbying work on all major federal healthcare laws.
PACs
In 2010, Darren formed the Mednax Political Action Committee and served as the Treasurer of the PAC for the company and its subsidiaries. Darren built this PAC into one of the largest healthcare professional corporation PACs in the United States, leading fundraising efforts for the organization and managing the distribution of funds. Patz Government Strategies can advise your organization on a political giving strategy to build your company’s brand.
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