America's Health Insurance Plans, the trade group that represents the health insurance industry, spent nearly $1.9 million lobbying the federal government in the second quarter.
The group lobbied Congress, the White House and other agencies on efforts to continue a government health care program for poor children. The federal-state partnership provides health coverage to about 6.6 million people, mostly children.
The program was at the center of a lengthy, contentious battle in Congress as lawmakers tried to more than double spending on the project to about $12 billion. President Bush twice vetoed the legislation, saying it would move too many children from private health insurance to government-sponsored coverage.
Democrats are expected to make another effort to pass the measure in the fall.
The health insurance industry has not taken a stance on the size of the program, saying only that it should be reauthorized.
The association, which includes UnitedHealth Group Inc., Humana Inc. and Aetna Inc., also pushed industry's views on legislation affecting patient health records and privacy.
The group lobbied in favor of legislation that would allow the marketing of generic biotech drugs. Currently, the Food and Drug Administration does not have authority to approve low-cost copies of biotechs, which are more complex than traditional, chemical drugs. Giving the FDA that power would mean savings for insurers due to lower prescription drug expenses.
Besides Congress, the group lobbied the Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Social Security Administration and other agencies in the April-June period, according to the form filed July 21 with the House clerk's office.
Jeannette Thornton, formerly a policy analyst at the federal Office of Management and Budget, was among those lobbying on behalf of America's Health Insurance Plans.
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