Nicholas P. Manetto
Principal - Faegre Drinker Consulting
Overview
Nick Manetto partners with health care providers, research organizations and nonprofit organizations to design and execute federal relations strategies to achieve measurable goals and outcomes. He currently leads the firm’s federal policy, advocacy and consulting (FPAC) team and also serves as chair of the firm’s political action committee.
Nick has more than two decades of experience working on federal health care policy before both Congress and the executive branch. He represents an array of clients with an emphasis on health care providers, particularly Catholic health care providers, children’s hospitals and integrated health systems as well as patient advocacy organizations and other nonprofit entities. Specific areas of emphasis include Medicare and Medicaid, medical research and public health policy, children’s health issues, rare disease policy, and patient engagement as part of the drug development process.
Nick has designed and executed federal affairs strategies that have resulted in legislative, executive branch and regulatory victories for clients, including enactment of multiple pieces of legislation into law. He maintains strong relationships with staff on a bipartisan basis and in both the House and Senate. He has successfully represented client interests on nearly every significant piece of health care legislation over the past 15 years, including the 21st Century Cures Act, prescription drug user fee bills, numerous Medicare packages, the Affordable Care Act (ACA), and several annual appropriations bills, particularly the Labor, Health and Human Services (HHS) and Education spending bill. More recently, Nick has helped clients navigate challenges and opportunities related to the COVID-19 pandemic and the public health emergency.
Nick regularly writes, speaks and presents on health care policy, the legislative process and related issues and also writes on health care policy topics. Articles authored or co-authored by Nick have been published in Health Affairs Forefront, Stat, Law360 and the Food and Drug Law Institute.
Strategic Communications Campaigns
In addition to his health care policy work, Nick leverages his experience as a congressional press secretary, campaign manager and reporter to develop compelling messages and materials and help clients secure earned media coverage of their issue to advance overarching policy goals. He also helps navigate crisis situations by advising on communications strategies and tactics.
Prior Experience
Nick previously served as a legislative assistant and press secretary to a senior member of Congress and managed two successful reelection campaigns. Before coming to D.C., Nick was a staff reporter for The Times newspaper in Trenton, New Jersey, where he covered various beats, including politics and elections, courts, county and local government, and education.
Hill Experience
- Rep. Christopher H. Smith (R-NJ)
Personal Interests
A New Jersey native, Nick and his wife Carrie are the parents of six children — four boys and two girls — ranging from teenager to toddler and reside in Virginia. Nick enjoys participating in many activities with his wife and children, including Scouting, helping to coach youth sports, and volunteering in their schools and parish community and with other civic organizations. Nick also enjoys running, hiking and reading, especially works of history, faith and fiction.
Related Legal Services
Related Policy, Advocacy, and Consulting Services
Related Industries
Credentials
Certifications
University of Virginia —Health Sciences Management Certificate, 2023Education
The College of New Jersey
B.A. in History, cum laude (2001)
Insights & Events
Latest
Insights
Other Perspectives
- Health Policy Legislative Landscape May Remain Frozen
Republished in Law360, Jan. 30, 2024 - Health care’s rising helium fears
POLITICO Pulse, Jan. 26, 2024 - Congressional Committees: What They Are, Why They Are Important and What You Need to Know
Rare Disease Week, Rare Disease Legislative Advocates, February 2016 - Communications Preparedness for Times of Crisis
Chapter co-author, Bringing Your Pharmaceutical Drug to Market, FDLI, May 2015 - Overview of the 114th Congress: Congressional Committees that Shape the Future of Health
Rare Disease Week, Rare Disease Legislative Advocates, February 2015 - Financial Incentives to Support Unmet Medical Needs for Nervous System Disorders
Panelist, Institute of Medicine of the National Academies, Washington, D.C., January 2015 - Health Care Reform & How It Impacts Your Customers
Health Care Symposium, Gordon Food Service, Indianapolis, November 2014 - Value-Based Purchasing: What It Means for Your Customers
Three Breakout Sessions, Health Care Symposium, Gordon Food Service, Indianapolis, November 2014
Firm Blog Contributions
- LaborSphere – a resource providing coverage and insights on breaking cases, recently enacted legislation and a broad range of labor issues
Leadership & Community
Civic Activities
- St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Herndon, VA — Lector
- Boy Scout Troop 913 — Assistant Scout Master
- Knights of Columbus Good Samaritan Council
- LINK — Food Delivery Driver