The biggest players in the health care industry are pouring record sums into K Street, Washington’s lobbying corridor, as the Trump administration steps up scrutiny of their business practices ahead of the midterms.<\/p>\n
Newly filed lobbying disclosures show that some of the largest health care trade groups in Washington continue to budget historic sums for lobbying. AHIP, which represents health insurers, spent $5.3 million in the first three months of 2026, the most for any quarter on record.<\/p>\n
The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, the lobby of branded drug makers, spent $12.2 million, the second-highest quarter on record for the trade association after the first quarter last year. The American Medical Association, which represents doctors, spent nearly $8 million, its second-highest quarter in the last decade.<\/p>\n
Individual companies have also stepped up. US drugmakers Eli Lilly, Gilead and Regeneron recorded their highest quarterly spending on lobbying last quarter. Health insurer Humana, meanwhile, reported its highest lobbying spending on record for that period: $2.6 million.<\/p>\n
The record spending came as President Donald Trump ordered Congress to turn his first-year agenda on health care into law. In a sweeping directive announced in January, he asked lawmakers to codify their drug pricing deals, send money directly to Americans for health insurance and require more price transparency from insurers. Meanwhile, the companies are urging Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his Make America Healthy Again movement continue to defend themselves from attacks questioning the safety of ultraprocessed food and drugs.<\/p>\n
Susan Zook, founder of Mason Street Consulting, a health care and technology-focused lobbying shop, expects the high level of activity to continue.<\/p>\n
“I don’t think there will be any reduction in this by the end of this administration. That’s not (Trump’s) style,” said Zook, who previously served as a health care policy adviser. Senator Mike Crapo<\/a> (R-Idaho), who is now chairman of the powerful Finance Committee.<\/p>\n The White House and Republican lawmakers are also increasing scrutiny of health care companies over the high cost of care in an effort to blunt Democrats’ attacks on affordability<\/u>","Add":{"Target": :"New","Property":(),"url": :"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/news\/2026\/04\/16\/cabinet-hearings-populism-00877139","_Identification": :"0000019d-b74d-d4dc-a9fd-f7dfd8860001","_Type": :"33ac701a-72c1-316a-a3a5-13918cf384df"},"_Identification": :"0000019d-b74d-d4dc-a9fd-f7dfd8860002","_Type": :"02ec1f82-5e56-3b8c-af6e-6fc7c8772266"}”>Blunt Democrats’ attacks on affordability<\/u> in the midterm elections, which will determine the extent of Trump’s power in his final years in office. Republican lawmakers have held several hearings with health care officials in recent weeks, and on Tuesday Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Mehmet Oz announced nationwide action.<\/u>","Add":{"Target": :"New","Property":(),"url": :"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/news\/2026\/04\/21\/oz-medicaid-fraud-plan-politico-summit-00883279","_Identification": :"0000019d-b74d-d4dc-a9fd-f7dfd8860003","_Type": :"33ac701a-72c1-316a-a3a5-13918cf384df"},"_Identification": :"0000019d-b74d-d4dc-a9fd-f7dfd8860004","_Type": :"02ec1f82-5e56-3b8c-af6e-6fc7c8772266"}”>nationwide action<\/u> On Medicaid fraud at Politico’s health care summit.<\/p>\n