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View Full Version : J&J spent $1.64M lobbying government in 4Q



Libertarian_Guard
10th April 2010, 10:55 AM
WASHINGTON

Johnson & Johnson, the huge maker of health products from Band-Aids to biologic drugs, spent $1.64 million in the fourth quarter lobbying the government on issues related to the health care overhaul and on multiple bills that could affect its revenue, according to a recent disclosure form.

That was up 15 percent from the $1.44 million the New Brunswick, N.J.-based company spent lobbying in the year-ago period, but slightly less than the $1.66 million in spent in the third quarter of 2009.

Johnson and Johnson this year lobbied on patent reform provisions and various aspects of the health care overhaul, including providing access to primary health care to all Americans.

Other targets included bills to require research comparing the effectiveness of drugs and other medical treatments and to mandate that health products come with effectiveness information in the detailed package insert. It lobbied on giving the Food and Drug Administration more authority to ensure the safety and quality of medical products as well.

J&J also lobbied on legislation that would establish a route for generic versions of expensive biologic drugs to be approved; the just-passed health care overhaul allows for generic competition, but only after 12 years of market exclusivity. J&J is a top maker of biologic drugs, with more than $6 billion in annual sales from its Procrit for anemia and Remicade for multiple immune disorders.

The company also lobbied on legislation to make drug and medical device makers report payments to doctors such as consulting fees, a hot issue as critics claim medical companies have too much influence over doctors' decisions.

The world's biggest maker of health care products also lobbied to expand certain public health programs, such as the National Health Service Corps. It lobbied to eliminate some price discounts it now must give on prescription medicines paid for by Medicare for hospitalized patients, and on other bills concerning prices of drugs covered under Medicare.

J&J, maker of the HIV medicine Prezista, lobbied on bills involving Medicaid coverage for low-income people infected with the AIDS virus.

It lobbied on a bill meant to limit abuse of the cough suppressant dextromethorphan, an ingredient in its Tylenol Cold medicines.

And, as a top maker of medical devices such as knee and hip implants, it lobbied against legislation to allow patients who allege harm caused by medical devices approved by the Food and Drug Administration to sue manufacturers in state courts.

It lobbied on two bills concerning sealing of information in civil lawsuits, an issue because drugmakers often are sued by patients alleging their products caused harm -- the companies try to keep details of such cases secret.

J&J also lobbied in support of funding for water pollution control programs and creating clean energy jobs. The company uses solar power and other clean energy in many facilities in the 57 countries where it operates, has been reducing its carbon dioxide emissions and has switched to environmentally friendlier packaging.

J&J lobbied for a tax credit to employers who, like J&J, offer employee wellness programs.

Besides Congress, the company lobbied the departments of Treasury and Health and Human Services in the October-December period, according to the form filed Jan. 20 with the House clerk's office.

http://www.businessweek.com/ap/finan.../D9EKG72O1.htm