Rodney Whitlock, Ph.D. - McDermott+Consulting

Overview


Rodney is an accomplished health care advisor with more than two decades on the Hill where he specialized in rural health, the health care safety net and disability policy.

With more than 25 years of experience, Rodney possesses and offers clients the kind of knowledge that is uniquely available to those who have drafted and advanced legislation. He strategically guides clients through dense Medicare and Medicaid issues that have significant business impact.

While working in Congress, Rodney served as former US Representative Charlie Norwood’s (R-GA) health policy director where he managed the Patients’ Bill of Rights (S.1890), among other notable health policy matters.  Rodney then went on to serve Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) in the Senate. He first joined the Senate Finance Committee Staff as a health policy advisor to Chairman Grassley, and ultimately joined the Senator’s personal office as health policy director.  During his time in the Senate, Rodney served as the lead Republican staffer for Medicaid legislation from 2005 to 2010, and continued to serve Senator Grassley on all health-related issues through 2015. During his time in the Senate, Rodney helped staff Republicans in the Senate on such prominent and important legislation as the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006, CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2007 and 2009 and Affordable Care Act of 2010.

For the last 20 years, Rodney has been an adjunct faculty member at the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health’s Department of Health Policy and Management, and the Graduate School of Political Management’s Department of Legislative Affairs. Hundreds of students have taken Rodney’s courses and have gone on to pursue careers in Washington, DC.

Education


  • University of Georgia, Ph.D.
  • Appalachian State University, M.A.
  • Roanoke College, B.A.

Representative Experience


  • Served as lead health policy staff for Representative Charlie Norwood (R-GA) and Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), as well as the Senate Finance Committee
  • Worked with multiple Administrations to advance health care priorities
  • Prominent speaker and thought leader on health care policy
  • Led responses to congressional inquiries and preparation efforts for congressional testimony
  • Led several federal strategic planning efforts focusing on developing federal advocacy efforts, issue priorities and policy analysis
  • Led efforts on building and maintaining relationship with members and staff to increase profiles and presence on Capitol Hill
  • Authoritative resource on health policy issues, including, Medicaid, Marketplace and Medicare policy

Insights and In the News


Spending debate tees up potential lame-duck health bill

Three Variables That Will Influence the 2024 Presidential Election

Health Policy Outlook for 2024

Here’s why it would be even harder now to kill Obamacare

CMS Finalizes Remedy for 340B-Acquired Drugs Purchased in CYs 2018–2022

What to Watch on PAHPA

CMS Releases Proposed Remedy for 340B-Acquired Drugs Purchased in Cost Years 2018–2022

Republicans Aren't Done Talking About Medicare

CMS Releases Proposed Rule: Medicaid and CHIP Managed Care Access, Finance, and ...

CMS Releases Proposed Rule: Medicaid Program; Ensuring Access to Medicaid Services

North Carolina Offers a Recipe for Holdout States to Expand Medicaid

2023 Health Policy Outlook

Biden Pledges to Extend Medicare's Solvency for 'At Least Two Decades'

Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023: Health Provisions

What the Midterm Election Results Mean for 340B

Way Too Early Preview: What the Midterm Election Results Might Mean for ...

Recorded Webinar—2022 Midterm Election Results: What to Watch in Health Policy

GOP Tees Up Health Care Oversight For Next Congress

Post-Election Committee Membership Tracker

Lame Duck Preview 2022

The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022: Healthcare Provisions Updated: 08/16/2022

The Policy and Politics of Long-Term Care: Latest Views on Reform

Covid response may have to be scaled back amid congressional inaction, White ...

2022 Health Policy Outlook

Hospitals just dodged a bullet in Democrats' major spending package. Can they ...

Health Funding Is On The Line On Capitol Hill

2,000 PAGES AND PRONTO! BUDGET SCOREKEEPERS ARE UNDER PRESSURE

ADDITIONAL MEDICARE, MEDICAID MAY BE WHITTLED OR CUT AS DEMOCRATS WOO MODERATES

House Committee Markups - What's Next

September Congressional Preview

Health Policy Breakroom - Ep 82 House Legislative Deadline

Health Policy Breakroom - Ep 80 Infrastructure And Budget Resolution Bills

Health Policy Breakroom - Ep 79 COVID - 19 Vaccine Holdouts And Policy Response

Health Policy Breakroom Ep 72 - SCOTUS decision on the ACA

Health Policy Breakroom Ep 71 - SCOTUS and the ACA

President’s Fiscal Year 2022 Budget: What You Need to Know

Healthcare Breakroom Ep 70 - COVID Vaccine Rate Goals

Healthcare Breakroom Ep 69 - Congressional Hearings And Welcome To Our Data Analytic ...

Healthcare Breakroom Ep 68 - COVID Vaccines for Young Americans

Health Policy Breakroom Ep. 66 - The American Families Plan

Health Policy Breakroom Ep. 65 - CMS Reverses Texas Medicaid Waiver

Health Policy Breakroom Ep. 63 - 11 Years of the ACA

Health Policy Breakroom Ep. 62 - Sequester Relief Bills Introduced

American Rescue Plan Act of 2021: Key Healthcare Provisions

Health Policy Breakroom Ep. 59 - Earmarks Are Back

Health Policy Breakroom Ep. 57 - Groundhog Day

Senate Rules Could Pose Hurdles for Vaccine Funds

Health Policy Breakroom Ep. 55 - Welcome to the Biden Administration

7 Ways President Biden Could Now Change Healthcare

The First 100 Days: Biden's Healthcare Outlook

Health Policy Breakroom Ep. 53 - Georgia and Capitol Unrest

Medicaid, Obamacare Expected to Top Democrats’ Early Health Agenda, Former Aides and ...

The Health 202: The Georgia Wins Gave Democrats the Narrowest of Openings for ...

With New Majority, Here’s What Democrats Can (and Can’t) Do ...

Health Care Briefing: Georgia Races to Shape Biden Health Policy

Summary of Key Health Provisions in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021

Health Policy Breakroom Ep. 52 - The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year

Drug Pricing – Trump Administration Announces Most-Favored Nation Drug Pricing Model

POLITICO Pulse

Trump’s Lame-Duck Status Leaves Governors to Wing It on COVID

The Election Killed Any Dreams of Big Health Care Changes

The Health 202: Democrats Probably Lost Their Shot at Big Health Legislation such ...

Divided Congress Hinders Health-Care Agenda for Both Parties

If They Sweep on Election Day, Democrats Still Face a Challenge Meeting ...

If They Sweep on Election Day, Dems Still Face a Challenge Meeting ...

Rodney Whitlock Comments on Campaign Health Care Policy Perspectives

Axios Vitals

The Health 202: Congress Could Easily Make the Obamacare Lawsuit Go Away. It ...

Many Hospitals Charge More Than Twice What Medicare Pays for the Same ...

Senate GOP Poised to Finally Unveil Relief Package

Private Equity Lands Billion-Dollar Backdoor Hospital Bailout

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Rodney Whitlock, Ph.D.

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