Raghav Aggarwal, Vice President, joined BGR in October 2023. He helps clients identify challenges and opportunities created by today’s political and policy environment, formulate policy solutions to address them, and advocate for those solutions in both the executive and legislative branches of the federal government. He succeeds for his clients by relying on his significant experience as a leader in the health care policy space, strong technical expertise, and deep understanding of the policymaking process.
Prior to joining BGR, Raghav held a variety of senior roles with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) over a period spanning three different administrations. Most recently, as Senior Advisor, he helped oversee a vast array of policy and operational work related to the $400 billion Medicare Advantage and Part D programs, including implementation of the drug pricing and payment reform provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA).
Previously, Raghav served on the Majority Staff of the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance, on detail from CMS as Senior Health Policy Advisor. In that role, he managed legislation and advised Chairman Ron Wyden (D-OR) on the prescription drug pricing, Medicare Part D, and Medicare Advantage policy portfolios, among other health care issues. Raghav most notably led the development of the IRA’s drug pricing and payment reform provisions and helped to successfully negotiate passage of the landmark legislation that he also eventually helped implement.
Raghav has received numerous honors and awards for his meaningful contributions to federal health care policy, including the HHS Secretary’s Award for Excellence in Management, one of the highest honors granted by the Department and conferred by the Secretary.
Ryan Long is a Principal with BGR Group and works with clients in both the Health and Life Sciences and Commerce Practices. He has vast experience in policy areas including health, trade, technology, and veterans’ affairs. He possesses a rare combination of both policy expertise and superior knowledge of House process and dynamics after two separate tours of service on Capitol Hill.
Ryan previously served as a Principal with BGR Group from 2013 to 2018. He focused primarily on Health and Life Science clients before returning to Capitol Hill to lead the Republican staff of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. He then served as Senior Policy Advisor and Counsel to the Speaker where his portfolio included health, technology, and trade policy from 2021 to 2023.
Ryan also served on the House Energy and Commerce Committee from 2004 to 2013 first as the FDA Counsel and then as Chief Health Counsel from 2006 to 2013. Prior to that, he served as a Legislative Correspondent for former Rep. Charlie Norwood (R-GA) and for former Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX) from 1999-2004, first as a Legislative Assistant, then as his Legislative Director.
Katie Williams serves as a Government Affairs Coordinator with BGR’s Health and Life Sciences Practice which she joined in 2022. Her role encompasses diverse responsibilities, including precise scheduling, adept event coordination, and essential administrative tasks crucial for the team’s seamless functioning. Central to Katie’s portfolio is the establishment and oversight of BGR Connect, an exclusive online platform for client interaction.
Prior to her tenure at BGR Group, Katie cultivated her managerial prowess and multitasking abilities through roles in various hotels and restaurants across Colorado, Florida, and Washington, DC. This diverse background equips her with a unique perspective and versatile skill set, enriching her contributions to the Health and Life Sciences practice.
A graduate of The George Washington University with a degree in political science, Katie combines her academic foundation with hands-on experience to be a valuable asset to the BGR team. Her expertise ensures the successful execution of key meetings and events, further elevating the efficacy of the Health and Life Sciences practice.
Joel Bailey, Vice President, started at BGR in September 2021. Joel works with clients on crafting political, engagement, and policy strategies to achieve their goals. In this role, he regularly represents client interests on Capitol Hill and within the Administration.
Prior to joining BGR, Joel served for over a decade on Capitol Hill in several Congressional offices. Most recently, Joel served as Chief of Staff to House Committee on Ways and Means Member, Congressman Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.). There, he managed the Congressman’s political, policy, and whip operations. Before serving as Mr. Panetta’s Chief of Staff, Joel represented the hospitality industry to Congressional Democratic offices as a lobbyist for the National Restaurant Association (NRA).
Earlier in his career, Joel worked for a number of House Members who served on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce primarily focusing on health policy. During this time, Joel worked on the formulation and passage of the Affordable Care Act, the Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA IV and V), and the Safeguarding America’s Pharmaceuticals Act.
In each of these roles, Joel regularly worked with Member of Congress, staff, Congressional leadership, and allied outside entities to build coalitions, formulate policy, and execute on strategies to achieve his Members’ or clients’ goals.
Bob Wood is the Chairman and CEO of BGR Group. Since joining BGR, Bob has used his political campaign knowledge and policy skills to grow BGR’s health care, state, international, commerce, and financial services practices. Bob has led numerous campaigns for public policy efforts, using his state and federal experience to engage lawmakers and activate grassroots and community-based support.
Bob moved to Washington, D.C. to serve as Chief of Staff for Tommy Thompson, Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS). At HHS, Bob managed the daily operations of one of the largest departments in the federal government, with oversight of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Centers for Disease Control, the Food and Drug Administration, Health Resources and Services Administration, and the National Institutes for Health. Bob previously served as Chief of Staff to Thompson while he was Governor of the state of Wisconsin.
While at HHS, Bob helped steer the passage and implementation of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act. This landmark legislation, which provides seniors and people living with disabilities with a prescription drug benefit, more choices, and better benefits under Medicare, has been touted as the most significant improvement to senior health care in nearly 40 years.
Bob honed his political campaign knowledge in the state of Wisconsin. During that time, he served as a key campaign organizer for the only Republican challenger to unseat an incumbent congressman, worked as Governor Tommy Thompson’s campaign manager, and led the state’s George W. Bush presidential campaign.
Robb Walton is a Principal with BGR’s Health and Life Sciences Practice in which he Co-Leads the Access and Reimbursement Working Group. He works with clients to develop and execute strategies related to payment for health care products and services. Robb helps clients navigate the complex challenges and opportunities in Congress and the administration to drive positive outcomes for their organization. Robb’s work is driven by deep knowledge in policy, politics, and process that drive results in Washington, D.C.
Robb came to the firm in 2017 after spending a decade as a health policy staffer in Congress. Most recently, Robb was Senior Health Policy Counsel for Senator Bill Cassidy (R-La.) where he managed the health policy team and developed the Senator’s health care agenda for his role on the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) and Finance committees. During his time with Sen. Cassidy, Robb worked on and passed legislation related to physician payment reform (MACRA), Medicare, Medicaid, private health insurance, mental health, and health information technology (HIT). Robb started his career on Capitol Hill as committee staff for HELP Committee Ranking Member Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.). During his time on the committee, Robb worked on the debate over the Affordable Care Act and subsequent implementation and oversight.
Robb received his Bachelor of Arts degree in history and philosophy from the University of Maryland where he was inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa Society. He received a Master of Arts degree in American Government and Public Policy from Georgetown University and a J.D. from American University, Washington College of Law, where he was honored Cum Laude and was Vice President of the Student Bar Association. Robb is a member of the Maryland Bar and resides in McLean, VA where he lives with his wife and two daughters.
Sam Teague is a Senior Policy Analyst at BGR Group, where he works on domestic policy issues with a focus on health care, infrastructure and commerce. He works daily on time-sensitive projects, regularly attends hearings on and off Capitol Hill, and conferences with industry leaders. He works very closely with BGR principals and produces in-depth research on companies, public figures and legislative activity. Sam also produces and distributes weekly updates directly to clients on the issues that impact them.
He joined the BGR Government Affairs team in December of 2016, after working more than a year as a research clerk at the firm. Prior to joining BGR, Sam performed research for Indian River Advisors, LLC. He also interned at the American Continental Group.
John Stone leads the FDA and Public Health Working Group within BGR’s Health and Life Sciences Practice. John helps FDA-regulated clients navigate congressional and administration policy development processes that impact their products and commercial activities.
John joined the firm after spending nearly seven years with the House Energy and Commerce Committee (E&C), first as a Counsel on the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee and then as a Senior Counsel on the Health Subcommittee primarily handling issues under the jurisdiction of the FDA.
Working for Chairman Fred Upton (R-Mich.) he played a leading role in developing, negotiating and ultimately passing numerous bipartisan bills, including the Drug Quality and Security Act (DQSA), the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act and the landmark 21st Century Cures Act (Cures)—widely considered one of the most comprehensive biomedical research and FDA reform bills ever signed into law. Under subsequent Chairman Greg Walden (R-Ore.), John facilitated timely passage of the Food and Drug Administration Reauthorization Act (FDARA) in the midst of a very challenging political environment.
Upon John’s departure from the Committee, Rep. Upton noted that “John’s knowledge and expertise in the health care field is second to none. His contributions to our team over the years to improve public health, particularly our 21st Century Cures effort, were immeasurable. We will miss his good nature and wise counsel.”
Rep. Walden added that “John has been a valuable asset at Energy and Commerce and I’m particularly glad we had him by our side leading up to and during the critical passage of the FDA Reauthorization Act earlier this year. He brings with him a tremendous wealth of knowledge and the skills to push big tasks across the finish line. Our loss is BGR’s gain.”
Prior to joining the Committee in February 2011, John spent two years in the Washington office of Sanofi. He received his undergraduate degree from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, and his law degree from American University in Washington, D.C.
Dan Farmer, Principal and Co-Lead of the Access and Reimbursement Working Group, joined BGR in January 2020. Dan helps clients navigate the world of federal reimbursement policy, with a focus on the work of the Centers & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
Dan comes to the firm from Cleveland Clinic, one of the nation’s premier healthcare systems, where he led federal advocacy efforts in Congress and in the Administration.
Prior to his time at Cleveland Clinic, Dan worked in several roles at CMS, focusing on Medicare payment policy. Dan was one of the early hires of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation, where he was closely involved in the development and launch of some of CMS’ first innovative payment models, including the Pioneer ACO Model. Dan was later a Division Director in the Medicare Plan Payment Group, focusing on Medicare Advantage and Part D payment issues.
Dan’s career in health policy began on Capitol Hill, where he worked in the U.S. House of Representatives. He advised Rep. Zack Space (D-OH), a Member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, through the drafting and passage of the Affordable Care Act. Previously, he worked in the office of Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL).
Dan received his undergraduate degree from Carleton College in Minnesota. He and his wife have three young daughters.
Brent Del Monte, Co-Head of the Health and Life Sciences Practice and firm Principal, joined BGR in July, 2015. He helps clients formulate policies, and then works with them to achieve these policy priorities by developing strategies to best engage with Congress and the Administration, and then executing upon these strategies with, and on behalf of, clients.
Immediately prior to joining BGR, Brent served as the Vice President for Federal Government Relations at the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) for ten years. In this role, he was responsible for leading the efforts to accomplish BIO’s priorities on the Hill and within the Administration. Before accomplishing these objectives, Brent first had to achieve consensus on policy among BIO’s more than 1,000 member companies. During his time at BIO he helped the organization successfully engage with the Congress in the enactment of legislation creating a FDA biosimilars approval pathway and legislation allowing refundable tax credits for pre-profit biotechnology companies working on certain priority treatments.
Before joining BIO, Brent served as FDA Counsel at the Committee on Energy and Commerce under Rep. Tom Bliley (R-VA) and then Rep. Billy Tauzin (R-LA). During his time at the Committee, he successfully negotiated the reauthorization of the Prescription Drug User Fee Act, as well as the creation of Emergency Use Authorization authority and the Medical Device User Fee Act. Before that, Brent worked in the personal office of Rep. Bliley, where he served as his Legislative Director while attending Georgetown Law in the evening.