With a simple Google Search, we find that GE spent $7 million lobbying Congress in just three months....

Medical device industry's Q4
lobbying spend tops $20 million

January 29, 2010 by MassDevice staffMedical device makers, health information technology providers and AdvaMed together spent more than $20 million lobbying Congress, the White House and the Food & Drug Administration during the fourth quarter.


The medical device industry spent a lot of money making sure its voice was heard in Washington during the healthcare reform kerfluffle at the end of last year, dropping more than $20 million on lobbying efforts for health issues at the U.S. House and Senate, the White House and the Food & Drug Administration.

According to filings made to the Lobbying Disclosure Act Database, during the fourth quarter ended Dec. 31 companies spanning the industry's largest players and smallest fry spent amounts ranging from nearly $7 million (General Electric Co. (NYSE:GE) and all of its subsidiaries, including GE Healthcare) to $9,000 (health information technology provider ZirMed Inc.).

Predictably, the biggest spenders were also the sector's biggest players, according to the database. The next-largest lobbying spend after GE's was made by Abbott (NYSE:ABT), which spent nearly $2.2 million during the quarter. Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) spent nearly $2 million, Baxter International $1.2 million, and Medtronic (NYSE:MDT) and Covidien (NYSE:COV) each spent about $1 million. Boston Scientific Corp. (NYSE:BSX) spent a paltry amount in comparison with its peers, a mere $590,000.