Overview
When health care industry stakeholders need advice on critical policy issues or the changes they face as the industry transforms, they turn to Ted Kennedy, Jr.
A leading health care regulatory attorney for over 25 years, Ted helps health care clients identify, understand, and navigate the potential business impacts of key federal and state legislative, regulatory, and reimbursement changes. He is also a staunch advocate for the self-determination and civil rights of individuals with disabilities.
Ted represents many of the foremost health care investors and entrepreneurs that are transforming the health care delivery system. His clients also include corporations seeking ways to modernize their policies and practices relating to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in order to hire more people with disabilities, engage the disability marketplace, and make their organizations more diverse and inclusive.
Clients rely on Ted’s advice on providing post-acute care and home and community-based services for the frail elderly and individuals with disabilities and pre-existing health conditions, ensuring mental health parity and access to treatment for individuals with substance use disorders, and achieving corporate and shareholder engagement and accountability to advance equality, inclusion, and economic opportunities for people with disabilities. Because of his experience as a regulatory attorney, disability rights activist, and former State Senator, Ted is able to cut through the bureaucracy, accelerate access, and communicate with key decision makers and policymakers.
Before joining Epstein Becker Green, Ted was Co-Founder and President of the Marwood Group, a health care-focused strategic advisory and financial services firm. Under Ted's leadership, the Marwood Group advised hundreds of the nation's foremost health care companies, institutional investors, and trade associations. He previously practiced law at a New Haven, Connecticut, law firm and was the Director of Legal and Regulatory Affairs at the Connecticut Hospital Association.
Ted currently serves on the corporate boards of many of the country's most innovative health care organizations, including Arvinas (NASDAQ: ARVN), InnovAge (NASDAQ: INNV), Fox Rehabilitation, EmpiRx, and MedPower. Selected prior board memberships include Press Ganey Associates, Genoa Healthcare (acquired by UnitedHealthcare/OptumRx), and LDI Integrated Pharmacy Services (acquired by Diplomat Pharmacy).
A pediatric bone cancer survivor and amputee, Ted continues to be an active leader in the movement to expand opportunities for persons with disabilities. Since June 2017, Ted has served as Chair of the Board of the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), one of the country’s preeminent civil rights and public policy organizations dedicated to social reform and equal rights for people with disabilities. A trusted advisor, Ted counsels employers on best practices and ADA compliance. One of AAPD’s signature programs is the Disability Equality Index (DEI), now the nation’s leading corporate benchmarking tool for disability equality and inclusion. The DEI scores and tracks businesses on their disability employment, accommodation policies, and socially responsible corporate practices. Ted also serves on Law360's Diversity & Inclusion Editorial Advisory Board.
From 2015 to 2019, Ted served as a State Senator in the Connecticut General Assembly. During his four-year tenure as a legislator—including appointments as Senate Chair of the Environment Committee, Vice Chair of the Public Health Committee, and Deputy Majority Leader for the Democratic Caucus—he authored and led the successful passage of more than 70 new laws expanding environmental protection, disability rights, home and community-based care, value-based purchasing, provider network reforms and price transparency, mental health parity implementation, and access to treatment for individuals with substance use disorders.
Ted lectures worldwide on health care policy and disability law, and is a Member of the Council on Foreign Relations. His writings have appeared in The Washington Post, The New York Times, USA Today, Newsweek, The Boston Globe, Fortune, Harvard Business Review, and numerous other publications.
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Focus Areas
Services
- ADA and Public Accommodations
- Corporate Financing
- Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Counseling
- Drug Pricing Policy & Reporting
- Government and Commercial Coding, Coverage, and Payment
- Health Care
- Health Care and Life Sciences Investor Services
- Health Care Mergers and Acquisitions
- Health Policy and Legislation
- Mergers, Acquisitions & Divestitures
Industries
Trending Issues
Experience
- Provided a long-term care and home health company with an outlook and analysis of federal and state legislative and regulatory trends that could impact reimbursement, coverage, and coding.
- Analyzed and forecasted for a leading health care private equity investor likely regulatory and legislative changes that could impact each of its portfolio companies, and recommended action steps to address its specific risks and opportunities.
- Analyzed for a leading investment firm the impact of the 2020 elections on federal health care policy, with a specific focus on anticipated regulatory and legislative drug pricing reforms and trends in pharmaceutical value-based payment models.
- Developed an ethical algorithmic fairness policy roadmap for a Fortune 500 company to address the potential impacts of artificial intelligence on people with disabilities.
- Advised a leading multi-hospital health system on ways to prevent disability bias and discrimination in health care decision making and resource allocation.
- Advised a global financial services company on shareholder engagement strategies that advance the concept of disability inclusion as a new measure of responsible capitalism, corporate accountability, and ESG investing.
Credentials
Education
- University of Connecticut, School of Law (J.D., 1997)
- Yale University (M.E.S., 1991)
- School of Forestry and Environmental Studies
- Wesleyan University (B.A., 1983)
Bar Admissions
- Connecticut
- District of Columbia
Professional & Community Involvement
- American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), Chair of the Board
- Connecticut Bar Association, Member of the Executive Committee of the Health Law Section
- Law360 Diversity & Inclusion Editorial Board (2023 to Present)
Media
Events
Past Events
Insights
Insights
- Media CoverageTed Kennedy, Jr., Discusses “Stigma of Disability in Legal Industry Is 'Very Real,' Panel Says”2 minute read
- Media CoverageTed Kennedy, Jr., on Disability Inclusion in the Legal Industry3 minute read
- Media CoverageThe Disability Inclusion Imperative with Ted Kennedy, Jr.1 minute read
- Media Coverage
Epstein Becker Green Attorneys Elected to Law360’s 2024 Editorial Advisory Boards
3 minute read - Media CoverageTed Kennedy, Jr., Interviewed in “More People with Disabilities Are Needed in the Boardroom”6 minute read
- PublicationsIncreasing Disability Representation on Corporate Boards3 minute read
- Media CoverageTed Kennedy, Jr., Discusses Disability Inclusion in “There Are More Disabled Lawyers at Work Than You Think” ...3 minute read
- Media Coverage
Epstein Becker Green Attorneys Elected to Law360’s 2023 Editorial Advisory Boards
2 minute read - Media CoverageTed Kennedy, Jr., Discusses the Eighth Annual Disability Equality Index Report and the Progress Toward Disability ...3 minute read
- Firm AnnouncementsCommitted to Comprehensive Inclusivity: Epstein Becker Green Recognized as a “Best Place to Work for Disability ...4 minute read
- Firm AnnouncementsCulture of Inclusion: Epstein Becker Green Again Earns a Top Score as a Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion ...6 minute read
- Media CoverageTed Kennedy, Jr., Quoted in “Election Night Preview for Healthcare Leaders”2 minute read
- PublicationsPeople with Disabilities See Huge Job Losses: Will Pandemic Roll Back ADA Gains?2 minute read
- Firm AnnouncementsEpstein Becker Green Recognized as a "Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion"5 minute read
- Media CoveragePRI Podcast: "Why Disability Inclusion in the Workplace Is an Investor Issue, with Ted Kennedy, Jr."2 minute read
- Media CoverageTed Kennedy, Jr., Discusses the Steady Growth of Inclusion in the Workplace1 minute read
- Publications4 Ways to Improve Your Company's Disability-Inclusion Practices3 minute read
- Media CoverageEpstein Becker Green Featured in “How the 2016 Elections Will Impact Healthcare, According to EBG”2 minute read
- Firm Announcements
Epstein Becker Green Introduces New Video Series: Thought Leaders in Health Law
3 minute read - Media CoverageTed Kennedy, Jr., Featured in "Growing Good Citizens"2 minute read
- Media CoverageTed Kennedy, Jr. Featured in “Connecticut's Kennedy: Liberal Lion's Son Adjusts to State Senate”1 minute read
- Media CoverageTed Kennedy, Jr., Featured in "State Sen. Ted Kennedy Jr. to Focus on Environment, Health Care in 12th District" ...2 minute read
- Firm AnnouncementsTed Kennedy, Jr., Joins Epstein Becker Green as Partner2 minute read