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, 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.
Remy L. Brim, Ph.D, Head of the Health and Life Sciences Practice and firm Principal, joined BGR in 2018. She helps clients navigate the complex regulatory and political landscapes required to advance the discovery, development, and delivery of innovative products and care to patients and consumers. Her success for clients is rooted in her deep technical understanding, thoughtfulness, and commitment to sound public health policy.
Prior to joining BGR, Remy served as Senior FDA Policy Advisor to the Senate HELP Committee’s Ranking Member, Patty Murray (D-WA). In this role, she was the lead advisor and negotiator for Senate Democrats on FDA medical device, prescription drug, biologic, food safety, animal health, and cosmetic policy initiatives. Previously, Remy was the Health Policy advisor for Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) from 2013 to 2016, managing a comprehensive portfolio with an emphasis on policies relevant to the biotech, medical device, and healthcare industries rooted in Massachusetts. In these roles, Remy honed her relationships with Congressional leadership, the executive branch, regulated industry, trade associations, patient advocacy organizations, and other key stakeholders.
Remy came to Washington DC in 2011 as a Bioethics Postdoctoral Fellow at the National Institutes of Health where she analyzed ethical issues in clinical research, applying frameworks from philosophy, ethics, and law, building on her pre-clinical research experience which culminated in an FDA-designated Breakthrough biologic drug candidate. She enjoys guest lecturing for the George Washington University Medical Residency Fellowship in Health Policy and for the Washington University in St. Louis and the Brookings Institution Executive Education Program.
Ruth Osinski, as Vice President, assists clients with in-depth research projects and analysis used in strategy development and outreach to policymakers. Ruth joined BGR Government Affairs as a policy analyst for the firm’s health care practice in August 2006 after six years with the National Federation of Independent Business, where she had the roles of legislative assistant and legislative analyst.
Now as the Director of BGR’s Health Policy and Research, Ruth covers a variety of legislative and regulatory health policy issues related to coverage, reimbursement, tax and government contracts.
Ruth received her undergraduate degree from the University of New York at Plattsburgh and a Master of Public Policy at George Washington University.