Study finds surge in federal health care lobbying from 2000-2020

Health care industry spending on federal lobbying rose 70% from 2000 to 2020, largely driven by drug and device makers and activities surrounding the Affordable Care Act, according to new research in JAMA Health Forum, Axios reports. The health care industry as a whole spent $713.6 million lobbying federal policymakers in 2020, compared to $358.2 million in 2000, the report says, noting that drug and device manufacturers accounted for about 43% of the total in 2020, or $308.4 million.