The Advanced Medical Technology Assn., better known as AdvaMed, spent close to $365,000 during the first quarter lobbying Congress on behalf of the medical device industry, according to The Associated Press.
The national advocacy group took strong positions on limiting the industry’s exposure to personal injury lawsuits, patent reform and efforts to improve safety inspections at the FDA.
The group also took a nuanced position regarding the Physician Payments Sunshine Act, a bill that would require medical device and pharmaceutical companies to reveal all gifts and payments to doctor’s of more than $100. The industry council opposed the bill, which was co-sponsored by Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa), but then reversed course when efforts being made on the state level turned out to be more drastic, including the recently passed Massachusetts gift ban.
AdvaMed has beefed up its lobbying efforts in the past four years, since appointing former Grassley aide Stephen Ubl to its top slot, according to a 2005 article in The Hill.