WASHINGTON, DC—Chandler Chicco Agencies parent inVentiv Health has launched a new policy arm, Breakaway Policy Strategies, a joint venture between inVentiv and the partners of Mehlman Vogel Castagnetti, a bipartisan lobbying firm.

Dean Rosen (pictured), former health policy director for Senate Majority Leader William Frist, will serve as Breakaway president and chief executive officer. While working with Frist, Rosen helped shepherd the Medicare Prescription Drug Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003 through Congress. He also played a major role in the the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act and the Patient Safety & Quality Improvement Act.

Rosen also was senior VP of policy and general counsel at Health Insurance Association of America, and will continue in his role as a partner at Mehlman Vogel Castagnetti.

Breakaway will help companies address the diverse challenges posed by a nationwide healthcare system being reshaped by government regulation and shifts in the private healthcare market, including those driven by the Affordable Care Act. The firm provides strategic analysis and policy guidance to help healthcare stakeholders navigate changes arising from decisions made daily by policymakers at state and federal levels.

“Now more than ever, clients must have a sophisticated understanding of the sweeping changes taking place in America’s healthcare system,” says Paul Meister, CEO of inVentiv Health.  “Navigating this new landscape requires seasoned experts with historical knowledge, a deep understanding of political context, and the ability to anticipate what’s next. Through Breakaway, we offer experts with an unmatched level of health policy expertise.”

Joining Rosen at Breakaway is Rick Smith, former executive vice president for policy and research at the Pharmaceutical Researchers & Manufacturers of America and vice president for research and policy at America’s Health Insurance Plans, and Margaret Nowak, former head of policy at Walgreens, Medicare analyst at the Congressional Budget Office and director at Avalere Health.

Breakaway’s services will complement those Chandler Chicco, which recently appointed Heather Gartman as its new DC office head.