The Advanced Medical Technology Assn. spent $358,264 lobbying legislators in Washington, D.C., during the third quarter of 2010, mainly trying to have a say in the healthcare reform push and its varied proposals to tax the medical device industry.
That’s down from AdvaMed’s $379,000 Q2 lobbying spend and even lower than the first quarter, when the trade group dropped a cool $385,000 on lobbying in D.C., all with an eye toward influencing the final shape of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
AdvaMed spent $250,000 outsourcing its lobbying efforts with five different D.C.-based firms. That includes $60,000 to Tarplin, Downs & Young LLC, $50,000 each to Kountoupes Consulting LLC, Alpine Group Inc. and Cauthen Forbes & Williams, for issues related to the healthcare reform legislation (including comparative effectiveness research and accountable care organizations). Alpine Group in particular worked on legislation regarding the medical device user fee proposals. The remaining $40,000 went to Capitol Hill Strategies LLC for unspecified lobbying on the Physician Payments Sunshine Act of 2009 and the 510(k) medical device regulatory process, according to federal filings. AdvaMed spent $108,264 in-house for policy work in the House, Senate and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, on issues regarding the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute and ACOs.
During the fourth quarter, "AdvaMed and its members have been focused on creating a policy environment where continued medical innovation and job creation can thrive," AdvaMed CEO Steve Ubl wrote in an email to MassDevice.
"Moving forward in 2011, we will continue to address critical changes to the 510(k) review process that will improve its efficiency and predictability, as well as significant payment system reforms including accountable care organizations and advancing free trade, particularly through the Korea Free Trade Agreement. We will also be advocating an agenda that emphasizes policies that sustains and grows American leadership in life sciences innovation,” he said.
Last week, AdvaMed senior vice president and director of government affairs Brett Loper joined House recently elected House Speaker John Boehner’s (R-Ohio) staff as policy director. As AdvaMed’s director of government affairs, Loper was the medical device industry’s chief lobbyist. Prior to joining AdvaMed, Loper was chief of staff to former house majority leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas), and also worked as the Republican staff director on the House Ways and Means Committee.
