Spring recess saw surge in healthcare lobbying

The American Medical Association hired two outside lobbying firms over the spring recess, part of a crush of new registrations ahead of what are sure to be a frenetic few months as Congress debates the national debt and Medicare reform.

The AMA hired Harlow Government Relations and Loper Consulting to lobby on the healthcare reform law, the Medicare physician pay schedule and medical malpractice reform, records show. The registrations are among several dozen healthcare hires over the past two weeks.

Other hires include:

Baker Donelson Bearman Caldwell & Berkowitz / Bionime (biotechnology and medical testing); Envoy Health (diabetes supplies); and Specialty medical supplies (disposal supplies)

Becker & Poliakoff / Dade Medical School; Medica HealthCare Plans (Medicare Advantage)

C.A.R. Consulting Services / Home Health Advocacy Coalition

DLA Piper / Fresenius Medical Care (dialysis products); National Association for Home Care and Hospice; National Association of Community Health Centers; Novo Nordisk; and Pfizer

Doyce Boesch / Life Care Hospitals 

Fabiani & co. / Sanovas Inc. (medical device development); Sova Pharmaceuticals (biopharmaceuticals)

Foley Hoag / DEKA Research and Development Corporation (medical devices)

Gephardt Group Government Affairs / eHealth, Inc. (online health insurance)

Guide Consulting Services/ The American Occupational Therapy Association

Health Policy Source/ Montefiore Medical Center (delivery system reforms); Quincy Medical Group

Linchpin Strategies / American Orthotic and Prosthetic Association

McDonald Consulting  / Orexigen Therapeutics (obesity treatment)

Orexigen Therapeutics / Orexigen Therapeutics

Patton Boggs / Genentech (Avastin)

Podesta Group / Johnson & Johnson Services (medical devices)

SNR Denton / Altria Client Services; KV Pharmaceutical Company

Squire, Sanders & Dempsey / CoverMyMeds (prior authorizations for prescription drugs)

Stevens & Lee / Main Line Health

The DoCanto Group / Direct Care Alliance; First Focus (children's healthcare)

The Mizeur Group / Association of American Medical Colleges

Thorsen French Advocacy / Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (patent reform)

U.S. Strategies / Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center; ReGeneration Centers, Inc. (prevention and wellness)

Viohl & Associates / Fayette Regional Health System

W Strategies / 23andMe (genetics); Consumer Healthcare Products Association (over-the-counter medicines)

Washington Health Advocates / Autoimmune Technologies, LLC (diagnostic tests); Press Ganey Associates (hospital performance); Wolters Kluwer Pharma Solutions (pharmaceutical market data)

Wittie, Letsche & Waldo / Press Ganey Associates