Two former senior health care leaders with the Center for Health Transformation have joined Leavitt Partners. David Merritt, a nationally recognized expert in health policy and former CEO of the Center for Health Transformation and the Gingrich Group, and Kelly Crowe, a former Vice President with the same firm, have joined Leavitt Partners. Mr. Merritt will serve as a Senior Advisor to Leavitt Partners, and Ms. Crowe will be a Vice President at the firm.

“As a health care intelligence business, we depend on a talented staff to bring a deep and diverse background of health care expertise,” said Leavitt Partners CEO Rich McKeown. “David and Kelly bring a seasoned background in national health care policy and an attractive mix of financial and strategy expertise in the health care sector. Together they will significantly strengthen an already outstanding team of health care intelligence experts.”

Mr. Merritt and Ms. Crowe will be instrumental in creating a new, member-based health care intelligence service at Leavitt Partners called Health Intelligence Partners. Created as an extension of the unique expertise, experience and products of the firm, Health Intelligence Partners will provide health care executives with valuable and actionable intelligence about the likely future of American health care. This proprietary service will offer extensive research and analysis, input from industry leaders and policy experts, and interaction with a broad and deep network of health care thought leaders. More information about this new service will be released after the first of the year.

“With new mergers, acquisitions, regulations, technology and economic realities, the health care system is changing by the day,” said Leavitt Partners Chairman, Gov. Michael O. Leavitt. “It’s difficult for health care executives to plan for a future they can’t see. Our new service, Health Intelligence Partners, will help executives focus on the uncertainties and bring focus to the likely future of health care. David and Kelly will build the foundation for this new service.”

About David Merritt

David Merritt is a nationally recognized expert in health policy and a sought-after speaker, author and policy advisor. He is an advisor to Speaker Newt Gingrich’s presidential campaign and earlier in his career served as health policy advisor to the presidential campaigns of Senator John McCain and former Senator Fred Thompson. Merritt edited Paper Kills, an insightful book about the promises and challenges of implementing health information technology. He has a master’s degree from Loyola University Chicago and a bachelor’s degree from Western Michigan University.

About Kelly Crowe

Kelly Crowe is a former Vice President at the Center for Health Transformation. She interfaced directly with clients overseeing all of the Center’s business development activities. Prior to this, Ms. Crowe worked with the Advisory Board Company to help leading hospitals and health systems apply best practices and improve financial performance. She is also a thirteen-year veteran as a highly-ranked equity analyst covering the health care industry. She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Mississippi and a master’s degree from the University of Memphis.