Help needed!

[silverweb]

Research question: I need to find the source that states that $1 billion a year is spent by lobbyists for health insurance companies and private hospitals.

Anyone? I'm googling as fast as I can, but can't seem to come up with any adequate references.

Por favor?

S'il vous plaît?

[Catchawave]

1. I can believe that, as the pharmas spend 2 billion alone on advertising....

I'll help you look, and post something if I find it :hi:

[silverweb]

2. Thanks so much!

My daughter's doing the final draft of a paper on the subject and has notes on it, but can't find the reference. I said I'd try to help find it on line, if it's there.

:hi:

[Catchawave]

5. I found this on Open Secrets....

http://www.opensecrets.org/lobbyists/clientsum.asp?txtname=America's+Health+Insurance+Plans&year=2003

Not sure if that's what she needs, but may be a good starting point ... good luck with the paper !

[Catchawave]

8. Whoa....and this

http://www.opensecrets.org/lobbyists/overview.asp?txtindextype=i

[silverweb]

12. YES!

Look at those numbers!

:wow:

Thank you so much!

:yourock:

[silverweb]

9. Thanks again!

I've sent her the link.

What she does with that information now is up to her -- but she always does well with research papers. :)

[silverweb]

6. Never mind....

See my post #4 below. Don't waste time on this because I think she may have jotted something down that is insupportable.

Thanks so much for your efforts.

[jefferson_dem]

3. Can opensecrets be of assistance?

http://www.opensecrets.org/lobbyists/index.asp

Good luck!

[silverweb]

7. Thank you!

I'll check that out!

In the meantime, see my post #4. Don't waste any further time on this because I think she may have jotted something down that is insupportable.

Thanks so much for your efforts.

:hi:

[silverweb]

4. Okay, this may be a futile search.

According to September's _Congressional Quarterly_, the figure's in the hundreds of millions a year, but not a billion.

In the first half of 2007, the health care sector doled out more than $227 million for lobbying efforts — the first time spending has topped $200 million, according to a tally of semi-annual reports filed with the Senate Office of Public Records.

With Congress’ sharpened focus on health care-related initiatives this year, industry groups have been spending freely to get a piece of the action. The health care industry’s lobby spending has risen year-on-year throughout the decade, but the 17 percent jump is the highest since 2000. And health care interest groups comprised five of the ten highest spending organizations on lobbying in the first six months of the year, a notable change from a year ago, when only two such groups cracked the top ten.

Those five groups — Pharmaceutical Research & Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), American Medical Association (AMA), Amgen USA Inc., American Hospital Association and Pfizer Inc. — saw a $10 million increase in their cumulative spending. PhRMA led the way with $10.7 million in expenditures, with the AMA next with $10.3 million. Amgen’s spending nearly doubled to $9.1 million.

Maybe I should be looking for a combined total of lobbying and advertising budgets....

Sorry if I've wasted anyone's time with this.

[Mojorabbit]

10. I found this

I don't know if it is what you were looking for.
" In federal lobbying alone, healthcare spending exceeded $2.2 billion
the past decade, during which healthcare surpassed all other industry
sectors in lobbying expenditures"
http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/06-22-2007/0004613490&EDATE=

By M. Asif Ismail
WASHINGTON, July 7, 2005 — The pharmaceutical and health products industry has spent more than $800 million in federal lobbying and campaign donations at the federal and state levels in the past seven years, a Center for Public Integrity investigation has found. Its lobbying operation, on which it reports spending more than $675 million, is the biggest in the nation. No other industry has spent more money to sway public policy in that period. Its combined political outlays on lobbying and campaign contributions is topped only by the insurance industry.
http://www.icspp.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=130&Itemid=70

[silverweb]

11. YES!!

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

:yourock:

[silverweb]

13. THANK YOU, DUers!!!

You always, but always come through when help is needed.

Have I told you guys lately that I love you? :loveya:

:grouphug:

[Catchawave]

14. Thank YOU....I think we found out how to pay

for all the uninsured now :toast:

[silverweb]

15. Isn't that the truth?

Between the amount they spend on lobbyists, direct advertising, obscene executive salaries/bonuses, and lawyers/administrative staff to avoid paying legitimate health care claims, we'd have enough to cover everyone.

Now that this end-of-school-quarter crisis is solved, I have to get back to my paying job for a couple more hours.

My girl's only got this paper to finish and one more final exam to go tomorrow, and then she can crash and catch up on sleep.

:toast:

[sjdnb]

16. A few links

http://www.opensecrets.org/lobbyists/clientsum.asp?year=2006&txtname=America%27s+Health+Insurance+Plans
http://www.pnhp.org/
http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474977198906

[silverweb]

17. Thank you!

You're much appreciated. :pals: