• EDUCATION:
  • B.A. - Smith College
  • M.P.H. - Yale University

Colette Desmarais

Principal

Colette Desmarais has more than 15 years of experience in the health care arena.

Since joining Mehlman Vogel Castagnetti Inc. in 2007, Colette has assisted clients across a number of health care sectors in developing policy recommendations and legislative language. She also has helped them craft and execute effective advocacy strategies before Congress, the Executive Branch and Federal Agencies.

Colette came to Mehlman Vogel Castagnetti Inc. from Capitol Hill where she served as a top health policy aide to Senator Charles Grassley (R-IA), Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Finance Committee. During her tenure with the Finance Committee, she worked on a series of high profile Medicare initiatives including the Medicare prescription drug benefit and Medicare Advantage programs. Colette played an integral role in defeating legislation that would have established price controls on medicines under Medicare. She also led Senator Grassley’s work to expand the availability of long-term care insurance included in the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005.

Prior to serving on the Finance Committee, Colette held a number of positions in the private sector. She led the federal government relations department of the Group Health Cooperative, a non-profit Seattle-based health care system. During development of the Medicare Modernization Act (MMA), she participated in successful efforts leading to the adoption of payment policies, as well as other policies of importance to Group Health.

Colette also served in a variety of positions with the American Association of Health Plans (currently America’s Health Insurance Plans, or AHIP) including as deputy director of the association’s public programs policy unit, where her responsibilities included oversight of Medicare, Medicaid and State Children’s Health Insurance Program matters. Earlier in her career, Colette was an associate with the Managed Care Practice at the Lewin Group. She also worked as a legislative assistant for the late Senator John Chafee of Rhode Island.

Colette lives with her family in Northern Virginia.