Medical device companies spend 28 million to lobby in 2007

Medical device companies in 2007 spent more than $28 million onlobbying the federal government, compared with $26.5 million in 2006,according to a preliminary analysis of U.S. Senate records conducted bythe Center for Responsive Politics, the St. Paul Pioneer Pressreports. In 2007, medical device companies lobbied Congress on an FDAreform bill, Medicare legislation, a bill that would require companiesto disclose payments to physician consultants and legislation thatwould encourage health insurers to cover remote monitoring devices.

Accordingto CRP, medical device companies have increased expenditures onlobbying annually since 2001, when they spent $12.3 million. StephenUbl, president of the medical device industry trade group AdvaMed,said that in recent years, more companies have established or expandedlobbying offices in Washington, D.C. He added, “The world in whichwe’re operating is more complicated, and there are more (federal)issues we’re working on. So, you need the expertise.”

Source:  KFF Daily Health Policy Report, http://kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?DR_ID=51091