Matt Stone
Alexandria,VA
Summary
Healthcare Government Affairs and Public Policy professional with 6+ years of experience. Skilled in policy analysis, advocacy campaigns, and fostering relationships with internal and external stakeholders. Passionate about driving impactful change through policy and advocating for patients.
Overview
7
7
years of professional experience
Work History
Manager, Government and Public Affairs
CVS Health
Washington, DC
12.2022 - Current
- Coordinating federal and state-level advocacy campaigns for CVS Health, including representing the interests and policy goals of CVS Pharmacy, Aetna, CVS Caremark, Oak Street Health, and Signify Health
- Premier Award winner 2025 for my work coordinating across the enterprise to quickly stand up advocacy campaigns in key states
- Partnering with lobbyists to successfully pass beneficial legislation and to defeat non-beneficial bills in nearly all 50 states and in Congress
- Addressing policy and communications needs in a variety of subjects including drug costs, pharmacy reimbursement, Medicaid, Medicare Advantage, Part D/IRA reform, health equity, and workforce
- Collaborating daily with Federal Government Affairs, State Government Affairs, Policy, and Communications colleagues across our enterprise to coordinate lobbying and messaging efforts
- Advanced lawmaker awareness of our company and issues by creating state Economic Impact Reports and state Fact Sheets that better communicate our presence in all 50 states and our impact to the economy and communities of 14 specific key states
- Organized vaccination events across the nation with national, state, and local elected officials that promoted public health and CVS Health's vital role in community healthcare
- Represented CVS Health in several national and state-level coalitions and trade associations making sure our interests and needs were addressed
- Promoted and tracked our corporate reputation through millions of dollars in state-based and DC ad buys and surveys
- Engaged colleagues on key issues and drove successful employee advocacy campaigns that mitigated or defeated harmful legislation
- Improved internal corporate communication to our 300,000 colleagues by revitalizing our internal Government Affairs webpages and writing regular internal communications to promote Government Affairs activities to other business units
- Revolutionized social media tracking by introducing a state-of-the-art new platform using advanced technology and AI analysis
Senior Associate, Market Access and Reimbursement
Avalere Health
Washington, DC
10.2021 - 10.2022
- Consultant to life sciences companies, manufacturers, and payers on health care delivery and payment
- Completed over a dozen projects for pharmaceutical manufacturers and medical device companies to improve their market access strategies
- Reviewed state Medicaid coverage policies for cell and gene therapies and rare disease coverage
- Analyzed coverage and payment data in Medicare and Medicaid for dozens of drugs and devices
- Led international corporate meetings and client workshops
- Managed teams on projects, worked across firm practices, and coordinated staffing with associates
- Enhanced corporate culture as a member of the social event committee and the diversity and inclusion committee
Federal Healthcare Associate
KPMG US
Tyson's Corner, VA
04.2020 - 10.2021
- Worked on a team under a long-term federal government contract with CMS focused on COVID-19 programs
- Analyzed areas of Medicaid for desk review and wrote a paper on Medicaid desk review for COVID-related policy changes
- Completed Risk Assessments for Medicare DMEPOS and Medicaid Managed Care
- Developed a network-wide Competency Model and Curriculum
- Worked with a team to create a COVID policy tracker and update client internal memos
- Analyzed all COVID-19 policy changes in Medicare and Medicaid, including 1115, 1135, 1915 waivers and SPAs for Medicaid and CHIP
- Meeting tracking and detailed meeting minutes from weekly internal CMS working sessions
- Organized team activities and events, including several group conversations on racial equity, social justice, and health care
Health Policy Intern
Horizon Government Affairs
Washington, DC
12.2019 - 03.2020
- Worked with clients and coalitions across the healthcare industry to create and execute their lobbying strategies
- Worked on policy and communications needs in a variety of areas including drug costs, pharmacy reimbursement, Medicaid, Medicare Advantage, Part D/IRA reform, health equity, and workforce
- Advanced critical health policy issues including: value-based payment reform, drug pricing, combating the opioid crisis, and rare disease and children's health access
- Covered Congressional hearings and industry meetings, summarizing notes, and writing briefing memos
- Planned and staffed fly-ins and lobbying days for several leading clients and coalitions
- Organized the 2020 Price of Good Health Summit bringing industry together to discuss high costs of care
Government Affairs Fellow
Children's National Hospital
Washington, DC
03.2019 - 09.2019
- Worked with DC, Virginia, and Maryland lobbyists in graduate school fellowship program
- Preparation for lobbying DC, Virginia, and Maryland governments to promote children's health policy
- Supported the Child Health Advocacy Institute (CHAI) in developing a new strategic plan
- Led efforts with CHAI to identify key 2019 advocacy goals and plan an effective communications strategy
Education
Master of Public Health - Health Policy
George Washington University - Milken Institute School of Public Health
Washington, DC08.2019
Bachelor of Arts - Public Policy Studies, Political Science
Duke University
Durham, NC05.2015
Skills
- Health Policy
- State and Federal Politics
- Communications
- Writing
- Program and Project Management
- Advocacy Campaigns
- Patient Advocacy
- Client Communications
- Coalition Creation & Management
- Crisis & Rapid Response
- Earned Media Relations
- Executive & Employee Engagement
- Grassroots/Grasstops Initiatives
- Issue Advocacy
- Paid Media Campaigns
- Policy Communications
- Polling & Research
- Social Media
- Staff & Consultant Management
- Trade Association Relations
Accomplishments
CVS Health Premier Award, 2025
Timeline
Manager, Government and Public Affairs
CVS Health
12.2022 - Current
Senior Associate, Market Access and Reimbursement
Avalere Health
10.2021 - 10.2022
Federal Healthcare Associate
KPMG US
04.2020 - 10.2021
Health Policy Intern
Horizon Government Affairs
12.2019 - 03.2020
Government Affairs Fellow
Children's National Hospital
03.2019 - 09.2019
Master of Public Health - Health Policy
George Washington University - Milken Institute School of Public Health
Bachelor of Arts - Public Policy Studies, Political Science
Duke University