CVS Caremark spent $2M to lobby gov't in 2Q

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NEW YORK -Drugstore operator and pharmacy benefits manager CVS Caremark Corp. spent more than $2 million to lobby in the second quarter as the government looked into broader health care reform.

CVS Caremark lobbied on reforms of insurance and Medicare and Medicaid, access to drugs, generic versions of pharmaceuticals and biotech drugs, and coverage of cancer drugs. It also lobbied on issues related to prescription drug benefits, reimbursement for generic drugs and other bills related to drug rebates.

Besides Congress, CVS Caremark lobbied the Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Food and Drug Administration, and the Drug Enforcement Administration in the April-June period.

The company also lobbied on the Employee Free Choice Act, a much debated bill that intends to make it easier for unions to organize, as well as on food safety, medical equipment and laws intended to fight abuse of the cough medicine dextromethorphan, according to the form filed July 20 with the House clerk's office.

The Woonsocket, R.I.-based company also spent about $2 million on lobbying in the first three months of the year.

2009-08-17 12:39:23