Facts
Health care interests spent $445 million on federal lobbying in 2007, more than any other sector of the economy. This is the second year in a row that they were the top spenders.
In a more specific breakdown, pharmaceutical and medical products companies rank first with $227 million in spending, while health insurance companies spent the second-most at $138 million. Hospitals and nursing homes spent $91 million, ranking fifth, and health professionals spent $70 million, ranking 15th. HMOs and health services spent $52 million, ranking 19th.
The pharmaceutical industry has spent $1.3 billion on federal lobbying in the last decade, again more than any other industry. And the drug industry's reported lobbying increased by 25 percent from 2006 to 2007.