Lobbying Blitz: Health Care Interests Gear Up for Regulatory Battle

As the debate over President Obama's health care law comes to an end, a new battle is intensifying: the fight over how to carry out the law. Dozens of special-interest groups, including insurance companies, drugmakers, and patient advocates, are gearing up for a second wave of lobbying as the Obama administration prepares to implement the law. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which opposed the measure in Congress, is fighting to protect businesses that might be required to provide insurance, while drugmakers are monitoring how much they may have to discount prices.

Key Takeaways:

• The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is fighting to protect businesses that might be required to provide insurance under the new law, citing concerns about their bottom line.
• Drugmakers who supported the bill are monitoring how much they may have to discount prices, as the law requires insurance companies to spend 80% of premiums on medical claims by 2011.
• Industry groups, including America's Health Insurance Plans, are providing data and suggestions to the Department of Health and Human Services on how to carry out the law.
• The health department has declined to discuss industry attempts to influence implementation, but Secretary Kathleen Sebelius has stated that they are working closely with states, insurers, providers, and other partners.
• Other looming battles over the new law include the creation of high-risk insurance plans, the determination of who qualifies as a full-time employee under the employer mandate, and the development of a review process for pilot programs.
• Health care interests spent $652 million in 2009, up 14% from 2008, according to the non-partisan CQ Moneyline.

Statistics:

• $938 billion: The cost of the 10-year health care measure over the past year.
• 1,000: The number of times the law refers to Cabinet secretaries for decisions on how to carry out the law.
• 80%: The percentage of premiums that insurance companies must spend on medical claims by 2011.
• $652 million: The amount spent by health industries on lobbyists in 2009.
• 14%: The increase in health care lobbying spending from 2008 to 2009.

Sources:

• John Fritze, "Battle over health care law's implementation begins," USA Today, date not specified.
• Robert Weissman, interview.
• Karen Ignagni, America's Health Insurance Plans, interview.
• Karen Ignagni, statement.
• Kathleen Sebelius, statement.
• Mark Pauly, University of Pennsylvania health economist, statement.
• Randel Johnson, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, statement.
• Debra Ness, National Partnership for Women & Families, statement.
• Ron Pollack, Families USA, statement.
• CQ Moneyline, "Health care interests spend $652 million on lobbyists," date not specified.