Sara Traigle van Geertruyden joined Thorn Run Partners in January 2011 as a healthcare and welfare policy expert with 14 years of experience. Sara began her career on Capitol Hill, working for former Senator John Breaux (D-LA) from 1996-2003, first as a projects assistant handling Congressional appropriations and advising constituents on the federal grant process, and ultimately spending over 3 years as a legislative assistant overseeing Senate Finance Committee issues for health and welfare.
In 2003, she joined the law firm Patton Boggs where she practiced in the public policy group handling regulatory and legislative issues related to health care, welfare, and appropriations for clients. Sara has represented clients including hospital systems, pharmaceutical companies, health care provider associations and coalitions. Her scope of work in health policy combines expertise in working with all of the major health care agencies, including the Medicaid Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC), the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the Administration on Aging, and the Food and Drug Administration. Sara has also been closely monitoring and engaging the newly created Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC), the Federal Coordinated Health Care Office, and the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation.
Sara handled important lobbying efforts related to the Medicare Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA) and the recently-passed Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act for clients. Sara was actively engaged in drafting regulatory comments for her clients during the implementation of the MMA and continues to assist clients seeking to influence the regulatory process.
Among her greatest professional accomplishments, in 2005-2006 Sara managed the Medicare Rx Education Network, a coalition of over 80 national associations brought together by a mutual goal of educating seniors about the new Part D benefit under Medicare. In 2009-2010, Sara successfully represented a Louisiana-based coalition of health care providers seeking to avoid a dramatic reduction in Medicaid payments after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita as part of the new health reform law. After being deeply involved in efforts to reauthorize the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (T.A.N.F.) law during her tenure on Capitol Hill, Sara continues to work on issues related to the health and welfare of low income families and children.
Sara has a strong reputation on both sides of the political spectrum, having staffed Senator Breaux in his efforts to pass legislation that he championed with former Senator Bill Frist (R-TN) to modernize the Medicare program, and in his efforts to raise bipartisan ideas for health reform and T.A.N.F. reauthorization. Sara also has expertise in counseling clients through the Congressional appropriations process.
Ms. Van Geertruyden received her bachelors degree from Wake Forest University and earned her juris doctor at the Catholic University Columbus School of Law.
