Nicholas P. Manetto

Principal - Faegre Drinker Consulting

Overview

Nick Manetto applies the tenacity, ingenuity and focus on achieving results that he developed as a young reporter to solve problems, create opportunities and deliver meaningful results for clients. Nick partners with an array of clients including health care providers, particularly integrated health systems, children’s hospitals and faith-based organizations, as well as research entities and nonprofit organizations to design and execute results-oriented federal relations strategies focused on legislative and regulatory activities.

He currently leads the firm’s federal policy, advocacy and consulting (FPAC) team and also serves as chair of the firm’s political action committee.

Nick has more than two decades of experience working on federal health care policy before both Congress and the executive branch, including 20 years at the firm. Specific areas of health policy focus include Medicare and Medicaid, medical research and public health policy, children’s health issues, rare disease policy and patient engagement as part of the drug development process.

Nick has worked on most major pieces of health care legislation over the past two decades and has helped clients achieve enactment of multiple pieces of legislation into law. He understands both the specifics of a client’s mission or business as well as the nuances of the legislative process and actions that must be taken to maximize the chances of success. Nick has also  enabled clients to achieve success through regulatory and executive branch activities and by securing funding both through the annual appropriations process and through direct agency engagement. He does this by maintaining strong and productive working relationships with key members of Congress and committees of jurisdiction and by being a trusted and highly responsive resource.

Nick regularly writes, speaks and presents on health care policy, the legislative process and related issues and also writes on health care policy topics. Articles authored or co-authored by Nick have been published in Health Affairs ForefrontStatLaw360 and the Food and Drug Law Institute. Nick also helps clients develop strategic advocacy plans and is an able facilitator. 

Strategic Communications Campaigns

In addition to his health care policy work, Nick leverages his experience as a congressional press secretary, campaign manager and reporter to develop compelling messages and materials and help clients secure earned media coverage of their issue to advance overarching policy goals. He also helps navigate crisis situations by advising on communications strategies and tactics.

Prior Experience

Nick previously served as a legislative assistant and press secretary to a senior member of Congress and managed two successful reelection campaigns. Before coming to D.C., Nick was a staff reporter for The Times newspaper in Trenton, New Jersey, where he covered various beats, including politics and elections, courts, county and local government, and education. He regularly credits this training and experience with being highly relevant to his work today. 

Hill Experience

  • Rep. Christopher H. Smith (R-NJ)

Personal Interests

A New Jersey native, Nick and his wife Carrie are the parents of six children — four boys and two girls — ranging from teenager to toddler and reside in Virginia. Nick enjoys participating in many activities with his wife and children, including Scouting, helping to coach youth sports, and volunteering in their schools and parish community and with other civic organizations. Nick also enjoys running, hiking and reading, especially works of history, faith and fiction.

Related Topics

Credentials

Certifications
University of Virginia —Health Sciences Management Certificate, 2023
Education

The College of New Jersey
B.A. in History, cum laude (2001)

Insights & Events

Other Perspectives
  • Health Policy Legislative Landscape May Remain Frozen
    Republished in Law360, Jan. 30, 2024
  • Health care’s rising helium fears
    POLITICO Pulse, Jan. 26, 2024
  • Congressional Committees: What They Are, Why They Are Important and What You Need to Know
    Rare Disease Week, Rare Disease Legislative Advocates, February 2016
  • Communications Preparedness for Times of Crisis
    Chapter co-author, Bringing Your Pharmaceutical Drug to Market, FDLI, May 2015
  • Overview of the 114th Congress: Congressional Committees that Shape the Future of Health
    Rare Disease Week, Rare Disease Legislative Advocates, February 2015
  • Financial Incentives to Support Unmet Medical Needs for Nervous System Disorders
    Panelist, Institute of Medicine of the National Academies, Washington, D.C., January 2015
  • Health Care Reform & How It Impacts Your Customers
    Health Care Symposium, Gordon Food Service, Indianapolis, November 2014
  • Value-Based Purchasing: What It Means for Your Customers
    Three Breakout Sessions, Health Care Symposium, Gordon Food Service, Indianapolis, November 2014

Firm Blog Contributions

  • LaborSphere – a resource providing coverage and insights on breaking cases, recently enacted legislation and a broad range of labor issues

Leadership & Community

Civic Activities

  • St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Herndon, VA — Lector
  • Boy Scout Troop 913 — Assistant Scout Master
  • Knights of Columbus Good Samaritan Council
  • LINK — Food Delivery Driver

Firm Leadership

Nick is the co-leader of Faegre Drinker's Washington, D.C. team.
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