The Advanced Medical Technology Assn. or AdvaMed spent more than $366,000 during the second quarter and $417,000 so far this year to lobby Congress in favor of the medical device industry.
Q2 spending represents a 4 percent dip from the same time last year, when the group spent just over $379,000.
The group’s focus included issues related to the FDA’s 510(k) device review process, expanding and accelerating genomics research, regulation of certain advanced diagnostics and bills related the Medical Device Excise Tax, according to documents filed with the White House Office of the Clerk.
"This is a critically important time for America’s medical technology companies as health reform implementation continues and the industry re-negotiates the Medical Device User Fee Act," AdvaMed senior executive VP of government affairs said in a press release.
Some of the group’s recent efforts include warning the IRS against a potential double-tax on drug-device combinations, unveiling a “competitiveness agenda” that urged the federal government to make medical devices a priority and asking the White House to establish a special government office with oversight of "major proposed and current government policies to assure that they support medical innovation."
Earlier this month AdvaMed announced that Duane Wright had joined the company as president of government affairs. He was most recently VP of government relations at the Glover Park Group, which provides communications services such as advocacy and image advertising for corporations, non-profit organizations, initiative campaigns and industry coalitions.
