The pharmaceutical industry has a high stake in the passage of laws and they protect their interests by maintaining a substantial presence of lobbyists. In 2010, there were approximately 3,000 health care lobbyists in Washington (Attkisson). Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) is a trade group that represents 48 pharmaceutical companies and is one of the largest lobbying groups in Washington. They currently represent some of the largest pharmaceutical companies including Bayer HealthCare LLC, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Johnson & Johnson, Merck & Co., and Pfizer (PhRMA). PhRMA works to secure the interests of its clients through their lobbying efforts. In addition to their work under the PhRMA name, they also have …show more content…
PhRMA accomplishes these goals through the advocacy of public policies, research, and effective regulation of the industry (PhRMA). PhRMA had a stake in the success of the health care overhaul proposed by President Obama. They spent over $28 million lobbying for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Obama care). In closed-door meetings in 2009, White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel requested a television ad campaign to support Obama care which would run prior to the vote by Congress. The money for the ads was donated by PhRMA and funneled through political action committees set up by Jim Messina, the Deputy Chief of Staff (Blaine). In 2012, the FDA introduced the Food and Drug Administration Safety and Innovation Act which holds foreign manufacturers of pharmaceuticals to U.S. standards. Because of the higher standards, it limits the amount of drugs shipped from foreign countries and limits counterfeit drugs. The law appears to protect the public from harmful drugs, but it also limits the competition from foreign competition. The Act was supported by PhRMA, Senator Mike Enzi (R, Wyoming), and Congressman Henry Waxman (D, California) who worked diligently to move the bill quickly through the Senate and House. The Act was signed into law on July …show more content…
Two of these laws are the Best Pharmaceuticals for Children Act and the Pediatric Research Equity Act. Both of these acts allow the FDA to waive research for certain drugs that are already being used in adults such as some cancer drugs. In 2010, PhRMA spent $22 million on its lobbying efforts on health care issues. As a result of the work of over 50 lobbyists, laws were passed that were beneficial to its pharmaceutical clients. In exchange for their support of Obama care, it is believed that PhRMA will receive preference on future policies that will be worth billions to the industry (Blaine). Also, laws such as the Food and Drug Administration Safety and Innovation Act limits foreign competition and counterfeit drugs which will increase the profits of PhRMA's
In order to take advantage of this demand, five billion dollars is spent by the pharmaceutical industry on marketing each year. This marketing, usually in the form of advertisements, often distorts facts and makes the necessity for drug treatment seem greater.... ... middle of paper ... ... Washington, D.C.:
Interest groups, lobbyists, large corporations, and PACs try to influence the congressional committees' bills so they can have a say in the legislative process. When an interest group hears about a bill that is being debated on in a committee, they try to influence a members vote and they try to get a part of the bill changed. For example, a lobbyist came to me on a bill I proposed on making health care plans have no minimum requirement on benefits the company gives to its patients. He told me about how he did not get the right treatments and tests done on diseases he has and now is suffering badly from them. It was because the health plan did not have to give him anything extra. He changed my mind on the bill, and I changed the bill to setting a minimum standard on benefits given to patients.
The Frontline documentary, Obama’s Deal, tracks the course of Obama’s healthcare reform and the steps taken by the administration to get the bill passed. Healthcare was, and remains, one of the biggest platforms of the Obama administration and one of our nation’s greatest challenges. The film starts with Obama’s election into the White House in 2009. Rahm Emanuel, who had worked for the Clinton administration, was brought in to advise Obama on the reform. To win, Emanuel knew that Obama would have to move quickly as his campaign would be strongest at the beginning. But his crucial flaw was having Obama take a back seat on his own political agenda. Emanuel tried to change his mistakes from the Clinton administration’s healthcare failure, and
Why do consumers purchase specific drugs for various ailments, sicknesses or diseases they might have? Why do physicians prescribe certain drugs over competitive drugs that may be available to the public? Why is it that most of us can easily name specific drugs that fit the many ailments of today’s society? On the surface the answer might be as simple as good TV advertising or radio commercials or even internet adds. The truth of matter is the major pharmaceutical manufacturers own the patents on these drugs and this gives them all of the marketing budget and muscle they need to promote the drug and control the pricing. The incentives for larger pharmaceutical companies are very enticing and as a result, they don’t mind spending the time in clinical trials and patent courts to get their drugs approved. Some will even get patents on the process by which the drug is manufactured, ensuring that no competitor can steal the drug or the process. This protects their large financial investment and nearly guarantees a large return for their investors. Many consumer rights groups claim this is nothing more than legalizing monopolies for the biggest manufacturers.
Political systems within the United States work together to establish laws and create boundaries for their people. Government officials work with the Senate in Congress to help establish regulations not only for the American people but also for corporations in order to not become monopolies in today’s market. This all corresponds to a legislative process in order for Congress to have a clear idea of passing effective laws that help reinforce results within our society. Members of Congress and political affiliations are impacted by representatives from large business corporations through the process of bribing these government officials into supporting the ideas and desires of these corporations. In order for this to occur, these companies engage in lobbying. Lobbying is the attempt to influence government officials in decision making processes or swaying the government by employing tactics through various agreements in the form of verbal or written statements to public officials in Congress. This usually occurs through donations of large amounts of money to members of Congress as a way of bribing them to support the representatives of these corporations. Therefore, corporations have widely influenced Congress, making it difficult to pass laws and bills that are not in favor of these corporations. Thus, lobbying is influenced by money and promotes the interests of these specific corporations.
FDA, so many people were harmed. Even other countries versions of the FDA approved it which
Every year approximately 200,000 souls die from prescription drug reactions, with another 80,000 dying from medical malpractice (The International). Where is the FDA based? Why do they continue to allow doctors to prescribe these drugs? How could they get to this point? What once was believed to be a panacia for depression has turned into Pandora's box (Tracy).
The purpose of this paper is to discuss the Legislative Process and Healthcare Lobbying in the United States of America. Before a law is passed and implemented in America under both state and federal level, it has to go often time through a very lengthy legislative process except in the case of an executive order. And, without the skills and expertise of the lobbying strategies, the idea which might intended to become law may not even make it to the level of a bill not to mention the chance of it to become law. It is important for us as nurses, to understand the legislative process and become very familiar with the lobbying process and take early and prompt action to defend our interests and help prevent any negative impact that any idea or bill that may become law may have on the nursing profession.
Government factors into the equation of the argument. Critics of the drug industry say that there is not enough regulation, while supporters of the pharmaceutical companies argue that there is too much regulation and that that is one...
After our discussion Rick formed a meeting to begin organizing a lobby group. They created an agenda which included an invite of social service agencies to the meeting to discuss suggestions from them on how to develop a lobby group. They prepared a mission statement believing it will unite the group, as well as provide focus and draw attention to the lobby group. In this meeting the five set up an outline that involved organizing the group to address the needs of people with disabilities and how the inequality and stigma they face creates social barriers. They chose to focus on the challenges that Rick and the initial six members were experiencing which are lack funding by the government in the way of inadequate assistance for housing, personal finances and jobs. In this meeting they decided to recruit members through the local paper, the recreation center and door to door canvassing. One of the members suggested using social media and the United Way offered to help by placing a thread on their web page. The six members share their personal stories via a video on the website. The website would be filled with current information about the effects on society when there is lack of adequate resources in a city and have a discussion forum and sign up tab. They decided to take advantage of the fact an election was imminent in the next 12 months by preparing to lobby the elected representatives in their district.
The beginnings of the Affordable Care Act started in 2008 when Barack Obama was running for president. He said “On healthcare reform, the American people are too often offered two extremes - government-run healthcare with higher taxes or letting the insurance companies operate without rules...I believe both of these extremes are wrong”. Obama won the Presidential election that November. In March of 2009 a “health summit” was brought together and Governor Kathleen
This fact validates the incentive pharmaceutical companies have to get a patent and acquire more power. Pfizer encourages R&D because of the incentives and a desire to obtain patents to receive more profit. Pfizer has to promote itself to be successful, creating a brand image that consumers will trust. If the company can advertise successfully, more consumers will purchase their products. Pfizer must also be generating products efficiently in order to save and use existing resources, while manufacturing their products at low costs to stay competitive....
Lobbying involves more than persuading legislators. Professional lobbyists investigate and examine legislation or dogmatic proposals, are present at congressional hearings, and teach government officials and company officers on imperative issues. Lobbyists in addition work to transform public opinion all the way through advertising campaigns or by control 'opinion leaders'. There are approximately 30,000 recorded lobbyists, other than that does not comprise the public relations experts, marketers, support personnel pollsters, and others who support their work. The majority lobbyists are hard–working professionals who comprehend how to find the way the political process, gain access to lawmakers and main executive–branch officials, and construct a strategy to accomplish their legislative objective. Whether or not you like the renowned place they engage in our system, lobbyists have turn out to be such an essential part of...
...k for big business, a private individual, or even the public. The goals and strategies are the same for all lobbyist. Foremost, they must be very good at the art of persuasion, the mainstay of their job. They figure out how to sway politicians to vote on legislation in a way that favors the interest they represent. In our American democracy, people that are not elected representatives shape the laws of our country. If we continue down this path, our democracy will also one day be extinct. We need to get back to the roots of democracy and remember what the true meaning is. Power to the People!
Moore describes how drug and health organizations constantly lobby the government to pass bills in their favor. In one instance, drug companies lobbied for a bill that would cover medication benefits for insurance recipients. Moore then went on to show how these organizations bought out Congress and even President Bush to get the Medicare Prescription Drug Improvement and Modernization Act passed. However, this in turn allowed drug companies to set prices as they saw fit, causing the elderly to pay even more for their prescriptions. Later, we learn about the 9-11 first responders who were praised by politicians as heroes. Yet as health complications emerged in direct relation to their service on 9-11, they were denied coverage from the government because they were not already on the government