JAY KEESE

Jay Keese

With over two decades of experience as a lobbyist and public policy professional, Jay has a diverse background with a heavy emphasis on healthcare issues. He also has significant experience with technology, finance, transportation and environmental issues.

In healthcare, Jay works closely with Congress and the Administration on innovative alternative payment reform proposals to help transition Medicare from fee-for-service into value-based models. He has worked closely with providers, payers, healthcare technology firms and states on critical delivery reforms such as Accountable Care Organizations, patient-centered medical homes, multi-payer programs, direct primary care and chronic disease prevention. Jay has been a leader at the intersection of healthcare and technology, providing strategic counsel and advocacy support to Health IT firms, application and software developers, payers and patient advocates working towards truly meaningful adoption of new technology as a driver of reform in the American healthcare system. Jay was successful in shaping innovative reforms included in the Affordable Care Act, including a provision allowing physician-driven direct primary care medical homes to participate in health insurance exchanges. In the effort to create the Medicare Part D drug program, Jay worked with pharmaceutical and health plan clients to help shape Title II provisions creating Medicare Advantage and new prescription benefits. He also played a role in the first disease management program in fee-for-service Medicare. Jay has also worked on FDA reforms, pharmaceutical issues, the Medicare Secondary Payer program, medical malpractice reforms, as well as patient safety and quality issues.

Prior to founding Capitol Advocates, Jay was a Vice President at Columbus Public Affairs, where he managed the firm’s healthcare lobbying practice. Previously, he held government relations positions at both the American Medical Association and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Jay began his career as an aide to the late Senator John Heinz (R-PA), a member of the Senate Finance Committee and Chairman of the Senate Aging Committee. He has worked on numerous House and Senate campaigns with the National Republican Senatorial and Congressional Campaign Committees.

Jay lives in Alexandria Virginia with his wife Sara, and their three children Katie, Caroline and William