Horizon’s merger with Monument Advocacy was covered by Politico Influence.
Monument Advocacy is merging with Horizon Government Affairs, gaining a major boost in health care lobbying firepower in the firm’s first big private equity-fueled acquisition.
The merger will give the combined firm a larger platform with which it can capitalize on the growing overlap between the tech and health care sectors on issues like cybersecurity and artificial intelligence, John Murray, Monument’s chief executive, said in an interview.
“For me, in terms of our strategy at Monument, health care has always been number one on my list” of acquisition targets, he added. “It’s an important part of the business, and there’s so much opportunity to cross-pollinate with our tech practice and our public affairs practice in particular.”
That’s especially true now, with sweeping change coming to the sector as part of Republicans’ megabill, which is now law. “All of the health care pieces that are in the reconciliation bill now have to be implemented,” said Murray. “There’s a long road still to make tweaks and advocate on behalf of clients who want to continue to be a part of that process.”
The combined firm will also be well-positioned to work on issues related to HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s “Make America Healthy Again” movement by drawing on Monument’s active food and agriculture practice and Horizon’s health expertise. “We see that as a huge opportunity,” Murray told PI.