Medical device group spent $924K lobbying in 2Q

The Advanced Medical Technology Association, whose members include Medtronic Inc. and Boston Scientific Corp., lobbied on legislation affecting the regulation of devices by the Food and Drug Administration and payments for technology by Medicare.

One bill heavily promoted by AdvaMed would provide payments to doctors for time spent analyzing data transmitted from pacemakers and other medical implants. The group also lobbied on a bill that would require drug and medical device manufacturers to disclose gifts given to physicians by salespeople.

In addition, AdvaMed lobbied Congress on a bill aimed at updating the U.S. patent system. Software and computer companies support the bill that passed the House last year, saying it would cut down on frivolous patent-infringement lawsuits. But the pharmaceutical and medical device industries have argued it will weaken patent protections on drugs by reducing infringement penalties. The bill has stalled in the Senate.

Besides Congress, the group lobbied the FDA, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Department of Health and Human Services, and other agencies in the April-June period, according to the form filed July 21 with the Senate's public records office.