Just one week after the U.S. elections, the National Health Council (NHC) hosted over 100 policy and advocacy professionals from NHC member organizations for the 2024 Washington Representatives Retreat (WRR) in Annapolis, MD. With the dynamic political landscape following the recent election, the NHC and its members remain steadfast in our commitment to championing affordable, equitable, and accessible health care.  

The two-day retreat was jam-packed with opportunities for attendees to hear from policy and regulatory experts, share organizational challenges and successes, and network with peers. The programming ranged from predictions on health policy during the lame duck session to the use of AI for drug development at the FDA, all capped off by a closing keynote from election analyst David Wasserman (The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter).  

Audience-favorite sessions included a discussion led by Michaeleen Crowel and Martin Riser from the S-3 Group outlining how the recent elections impact the lame duck session and health policy in early 2025. Another highlight was a panel discussion on understanding the best tools and techniques to get critical messages in front of decision-makers, led by Sara Brown (Prevent Blindness), Charles Husser (Arthritis Foundation), Sean McBride (DSM Strategic Communications), and Shree Thaker (Amputee Coalition).  

The WRR also featured a lively show-and-tell session moderated by Josh Caplan (AcademyHealth) and Ashlie White (Amputee Coalition), opening the floor for attendees to share their organizational initiatives, successes, challenges, and partnership opportunities. Fifteen organizations presented a range of topics from patient stories to updates on legislation.   

To close out the WRR, Wasserman presented a highly anticipated keynote address, offering an in-depth look at the recent election and its impacts on the future for health care policy. As one of the nation’s leading election analysts, Wasserman offered key insights into the primary factors influencing voters during the 2024 election, how the presidential candidates impacted the upcoming congressional makeup, and more of what we can expect from the incoming administration in the coming months.  

Didn’t attend this year? Join the ongoing conversation on NHC’s Policy Connect community to participate in the discussions, access session insights, and connect with colleagues you may have missed. 

While the 2024 WRR has concluded, the NHC and its members are continuing to advocate for policies that benefit patients and their families. We look forward to building on these conversations at the 2025 Washington Representatives Retreat in Annapolis on November 20 – 21!