Why It Matters

Rainfall Health has entered federal lobbying for the first time, registering DLA Piper LLP (US) to work on Medicare and Medicaid issues. The San Francisco company signed the registration Monday, July 27, giving it representation on the payment and reimbursement policy governing its core business.

By The Numbers

Three lobbyists represent Rainfall Health at DLA Piper. Karina Lynch holds the title of partner and chair of government affairs and public policy, Rachel Portman serves as policy adviser, and Maren McBride is of counsel. The filing lists a single general issue area code, MMM for Medicare and Medicaid, and reports no lobbying income and no legislation lobbied. The specific issues section was left blank.

Broader Context

Rainfall Health sells an AI-driven compliance and reimbursement platform built to help hospitals and medical groups navigate the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Transforming Episode Accountability Model, a mandatory bundled payment program that took effect at the start of 2026. The company raised $15 million in a Series A round led by Two Bear Capital in February, according to MedCity News, and said it would use the money to expand engineering and implementation staff serving hospitals affected by the CMS model.

The lobbying team carries directly relevant Capitol Hill experience. Lynch served as counsel to the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, where she worked on hearings involving CMS overpayment settlements and the effects of Medicare payment systems on the health care industry. Portman served as deputy health policy director for the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee under former Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC), covering a health portfolio that included Medicare and Medicaid policy.

Bottom Line

A startup whose revenue model depends on hospitals succeeding under a new mandatory Medicare payment program now has representation on the policy that defines it. The registration reports no income and names no bills, so the initial quarterly report filed under this contract will be the first real measure of what Rainfall Health is spending and which provisions it wants changed.

Access the Legis1 platform for comprehensive political news, data, and insights.

Spot something wrong? Report an issue with this article