Healthy Skepticism Library item: 15737

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Publication type: news

Pharmaceutical group spent $6.9M lobbying in 1Q
Yahoo Finance 2009 Jun 4
http://www.thestreet.com/newsanalysis/industrials/10509580.html

Abstract:

Pharmaceutical group spent $6.9 million lobbying in first quarter, nearly double a year ago

Full text:

The pharmaceutical industry’s main trade group spent more than $6.9 million lobbying in the first quarter on aspects of health care reform, the country’s new health secretary and other issues, according to a recent disclosure report.

The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America spent $3.6 million on lobbying in the year-ago period. The group’s members include Pfizer Inc., Merck & Co., Johnson & Johnson and more than two dozen other U.S. and foreign companies.

PhRMA lobbied on healthcare-related aspects of the 2010 federal budget, the federal stimulus plan, the budgets of health-related agencies, measures on health information technology and a proposal requiring research comparing effectiveness of different medical treatments.

The group also lobbied Congress on the confirmation of Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius as secretary of health and human services, ahead of her approval by Congress on April 28.

The trade group lobbied on multiple bills to allow generic versions of expensive biologic drugs, patent law reform, and a proposal to try a pilot program to provide expertise in patent cases to local district justices.

PhRMA also lobbied on legislation regarding the safety of medicines imported from other countries, reauthorization of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, pricing of drugs sold under the Medicaid program, and proposed requirements to disclose consulting and speaking fees and other payments to physicians.

Other lobbying targets included bills on international patent protection and trade adjustment assistance, according to a disclosure report filed April 20 with the House clerk’s office.

Besides Congress, PhRMA lobbied the Department of Health and Human Services and several of its agencies, the Commerce Department, the Patent and Trademark office and the U.S. Trade Representative.

Among those registered to lobby on the trade group’s behalf in the first quarter were: Jennifer Swenson, former legislative director for Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan.; Matt Sulkala, former senior legislative assistant to Rep. Allen Boyd, D-Fla.; Valerie Jewett, former legislative director to Rep. Rodney Frelinguysen, R-N.J.; Michael Woody, formerly a professional staffer on the Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions Committee; and David Boyer, who had served in about a half-dozen positions in the Food and Drug Administration, the White House and elsewhere.