Health-related lobbyists consist of health professionals, pharmaceuticals, and health associations responsible for agitating better policies and conditions for the health sector. Through their efforts, the country gives priority to challenges identified in the health sector. As a result, health-related lobbyists demand a substantial amount of finance to support their services. Therefore, they have formulated groups amongst the interested parties to contribute to the finances. In addition, contribution from other sectors that have direct or indirect relationships with the sector is vital. In this regard, the groups have the mandate to fight for the eradication of weakness in the health sector by influencing the political environments that change from time to time (Hann, 2010). Notably, their efforts contribute to the lives of every child, woman, or man in some way.
The lobbyists’ group, which consists of Renal Physicians Associations and American Medical Associations, spent around twenty-two million dollars during the struggle for the enactment of the health care reform bill. For the health professional lobbyists, their contribution in the political campaigns is noticeable which determined the health reforms implemented. Subsequently, they spent around eighty million dollars during the congressional lobby for health reforms. Through their specialties that represent them in the health care reforms, they contribute to the desired nature of conducting health care services. This implies that their experience and knowledge in the health sector create differences during health care legislation.
The lobbyists, being knowledgeable on health care matters, are connected with members of the congress to address such issues satisfactorily. This whole process demands a huge amount of funds that assist in the realization of the desired changes in the sector. Repeatedly, when health matters are at their peak around six lobbyists are connected to each member of the congress to address specific needs that are crucial for the public.
The pharmaceuticals are also one of the influential groups within the lobbyists. During the struggle for implementation of health care reforms, the group independently gave representatives of almost one thousand and five hundred members. Additionally, their spending was almost two hundred and fifty million dollars in the lobbying process of health care reforms. This implies that it is the leading team in contributing to health-related lobbying in the country. Furthermore, the pharmaceuticals have great influence in restricting the amendments that can be done in the health sector. Therefore, it prevents the threats exposed to ordinary citizens (Morone et. al., 2008). The fight for subsidization of drugs by importing more from Canada in the health care reform depicts the strengths of pharmaceuticals. At this instance, the group spent almost eighteen million dollars. As a result, this struggle was directed to reduce the costs of drugs facilitating the level of its availability among Medicare patients.
Since the debate was vital, the pharmaceutical group had to reach for the president’s conscience on the implications of the health care reforms. At the negotiation table, lobbyists represented the interests of every citizen and advised the president on the course of action to take. Based on this consideration, the lobbyists were able to demonstrate their responsibility in shaping their area of specialty. Under the discussions, the impact of the health reforms on the community pharmaceutical companies was evaluated and appropriate precautions were adopted (Mason et. al., 2009).
During the senate health committee meeting on the decision of the bill, varied representatives of health sectors among which are lobbyists were consulted. Some of these representatives included members of the pediatrics, Nursing and hospitals associations. Their representation depicted the importance of incorporating specialties’ interests when making decisions. Consequently, the outcome of the passage of the health care bill was destined to overhaul the health care system.
In spite of the difficulty to quantify the exact amount incurred in the whole process of health care reforms lobbying, a substantial amount is attributed to have been spent. In the year 2009, when the health reforms debate was on heat, it is estimated that lobbyists spent almost one and a half million dollars in the fight for the success of the process. Nevertheless, wide range of obstacles was encountered, but this boosted the results of the whole process. This shows that the fight for realization of the insurance program that covers the needs of every citizen is vital. Moreover, the whole process is attributed to reducing the cost of health care significantly. Therefore, the whole activity made the whole government robust in implementing an outstanding health care system for its citizens (Turnock, 2010).
The analysis of future health care reforms is anticipated to be demanding for the whole country. For the health-related lobbyists, the challenge of consolidating finance for their efforts is vital. In this case, the other teams of health-related lobbyists apart from pharmaceuticals have to invest substantially in the whole program. Notably, multiple individuals from other industries are joining in to fight for the success of the whole program. However, the expenditure on health-related lobbying is stilled lacking among the leading industries like defense and education. For this reason, the lobbyists have to double up their efforts as well as spending to realize their full potential.
References
Hann, A. (2010). Health policy and politics. Aldershot, England: Ashgate.
Mason, D. J., Leavitt, J. K., & Chaffee, M. W. (2009). Policy & politics in nursing and health care (4th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Saunders.
Morone, J., Litman, T., & Robins, T. (2008). Health Politics and Policy. New York: Delmar Cengage.
Turnock, B. J. (2010). Public health: what it is and how it works. Gaithersburg, Md.: Aspen Publishers.