Why It Matters
Ascension filed a new client registration with Mason Street Consulting LLC on Oct. 9, covering Medicare/Medicaid. Ascension has lobbied in-house continuously, with reports running from the fourth quarter of 2024 through the second quarter of 2026.
The two lobbyists on the Mason Street filing are Ellie Styles, listed with the covered position of Director, Government Affairs, and Susan Zook, listed as Founder. Zook is a former congressional staffer. Neither appears on any of Ascension's earlier filings.
By the Numbers
Ascension's in-house reports show $666,800 in the second quarter of 2026, $690,000 in the first quarter of 2026, $485,000 in the fourth quarter of 2025, $550,000 in the third quarter of 2025, and $1.3 million in the second quarter of 2025. Advocus and Mehlman each reported $80,000 in the second quarter of 2026. McDermottPlus reported $40,000 on its third-quarter 2026 termination.
Broader Context
Ascension said it was "deeply disappointed" by Medicaid and Affordable Care Act cuts in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, according to a July 3, 2025, statement on its website. A November 2025 Federal Register rule estimated that a 340B remedy offset would reduce payments to affected providers by $275 million in calendar year 2026, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System final rule.
Between The Lines
Rep. Bryan Steil (R-WI) posted on July 9, thanking CMS Administrator Dr. Oz for joining him at Ascension All Saints Hospital in Racine to meet with patients and healthcare providers.
Competitive Landscape
The firm also signed Summit Behavioral Healthcare on May 12 to lobby on health issues. Senphonix Inc. hired Checkmate Government Relations LLC on Oct. 9 to lobby on Medicare/Medicaid, health issues, and science/technology; National Mentor Holdings LLC hired Cozen O'Connor Public Strategies LLC on Oct. 8 to lobby on Medicare/Medicaid and health issues.
The Bottom Line
The Mason Street registration adds a firm that is new to Ascension's lobbying alongside Advocus Partners LLC, Mehlman Consulting Inc. and McDermottPlus LLC, and neither of its two lobbyists, Ellie Styles or Susan Zook, appears on any of Ascension's earlier filings reviewed for this story.
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