Drew Wilson
Tennessee-based Ballad Health has hired Ballard Partners for health care lobbying help in Washington D.C.
Ballad Health is the post-merger name for Wellmont Health System and Mountain States Health Alliance, which merged in 2018. The combined health system serves approximately 1.2 million people in Tennessee and Virginia.
The merger was opposed by the Federal Trade Commission, though it was able to continue despite the opposition thanks to what’s known as a “Certificate of Public Advantage” instrument available in Tennessee.
Still, the FTC has held workshops to field complaints from residents who say the merger has resulted in subpar access to care or inflated prices.
Ballad, for its part, said the merger allowed the two companies to pool their resources and create a more efficient health care network.
According to federal lobbying disclosures, Ballard Partners is representing Ballad by way of Baker Donelson, one of the largest law firms in the country. Handling the client are firm founder Brian Ballard and lobbyist Sylvester Lukis.
The new client is the latest for Ballard’s fast-growing Washington branch.
Since expanding to Washington, the firm has quickly risen to the top on K Street thanks to Ballard’s ties to the Donald Trump administration. He chaired the Trump Victory organization in Florida during the 2016 presidential election.
Ballard Partners has landed contracts with major businesses such as Amazon, Sprint and Uber. The firm also recently launched a full-service public relations branch headed up by former Deputy Press Secretary Raj Shah and Jamie Rubin.
Ballard Partners is also one of the top firms in Florida when it comes to quarterly earnings, reeling in up to $22.1 million in state-level lobbying pay last year. Additionally, Ballard Partners reigned supreme in the second quarter of 2019, earning an estimated $5.15 million in state-level lobbying compensation.
The firm’s Washington office is also a lucrative venture, bringing in close to $5 million last quarter.
12 comments
Dr. Mary Johnson
September 3, 2019 at 11:38 am
Meant to say SE corner of the service area. Can’t edit. Gotta be careful with the lawyers 😉
Dr. Mary Johnson
September 3, 2019 at 4:38 pm
Not all hospitals can be saved – it’s the folly of twenty years of expensive/over-rated “managed care” – only magnified by Obamacare. But trauma and NICU services at Wellmont’s flagship facility certainly did not need to be gutted in favor of MSHA’s (that’s ALL about Alan Levine and his tight relationship with a guy called Niswonger). “Past employee” (of ETSU). Check. “Disgruntled”. You betcha. It’s honest/earned after not being paid for two brutal months of overtime work/teaching (as too few physicians were recruited to staff a fledgling Pediatric program AND a residency programs was literally dumped on my head) . . . then being targeted for chronic retaliation after daring to complain (directly to Mr. Levine) . . . and then getting fired just two weeks after reporting a “bad baby” case to hospital Peer Review. “Uninformed”. Obviously, quite the opposite. “Naysayer”. See “disgruntled”. The moniker “Loyal Employee” says it all. He/she does not have the courage to sign his/her name as he/she trolls/casts aspersions on those who do. At this point, having been chased from forum to forum, and pummeled with rainbows/unicorns I have to wonder if it’s Alan Levine himself.
Loyal Employee
September 3, 2019 at 4:54 pm
Even Dani Cook , the one that gave you your voice back has dropped you like a bad habit. You certainly have trouble with your leadership.
Loyal Employee
September 3, 2019 at 5:10 pm
Dr. J , I will give you a shout out for one thing. I got the best laugh ever hearing about your adventurous trip to D.C. Being late, the traffic and especially the tickets. I laughed my guts out. Thanks
Former employee
September 3, 2019 at 4:43 pm
Loyal employee?? Doubtful. Alan Levine or one of his trolls…more than likely.
LE
September 3, 2019 at 6:51 pm
Mentally stable entertainment.
Le
September 3, 2019 at 7:56 pm
I just love following the adventures of Dr.J . I have known a lot of bitter people in my life, but you take the cake. Don’t forget to pay your toll tickets. Saw Dani back at camp for the first time in 2 weeks and she really misses you. I think she wishes her nephew had not schooled you and caused her to have to block you on Fb. Maybe you should beg for forgiveness.
Le
September 3, 2019 at 9:24 pm
I know her comings and going’s because I have to drive by that god awful mess twice per day to go to work. Something that bunch needs to do.
Past Employee
September 3, 2019 at 9:54 pm
If it’s such a god awful mess out there, how can you tell if Dani is present or not? Are you stalking her that closely??
Mz Info
September 3, 2019 at 9:28 pm
Yikes.
Dr. Mary Johnson
September 3, 2019 at 10:04 pm
The new Washington lobbyists are going to have their work cut out for them.
Le
September 6, 2019 at 4:57 pm
The prophet Dr. J. Not very nice to tell me to suck it. I would rather die.
Comments are closed.