Copyright 2000 The National Journal, Inc.
The National Journal
March 25, 2000
SECTION: HEALTH CARE; Pg. 952; Vol. 32, No. 13
LENGTH: 490 words
HEADLINE: A
New Lobbying Tack for Generics
BODY:
Members of Congress highlight generic drugs as one solution to
the rising cost of pharmaceuticals. Yet they don't often invite
representatives of the industry into the room when they're
discussing
health care issues, according to generic drug
lobbyists.
That will change this year if generic drugmakers have
their
way. The three small associations that now represent the
industry-about 100
companies-are expected to merge before the
summer. And at least one of the
larger companies, Barr
Laboratories, has created the industry's first
government affairs
office in Washington.
"We're
still outgunned 50-to-1 when it comes to
lobbyists," said Jake Hansen, the
vice president of government
affairs for Barr. "But the merger will create
one stronger voice
and less confusion for policy-makers."
The three associations are:
* The
Generic Pharmaceutical Industry Association, which
is located in Washington
and has a staff of six to represent
independent generic companies, as well
as generic divisions of
brand-name drug companies;
* The National Pharmaceutical Alliance, which is located
in
Alexandria, Va., and has a president and a full-time
consultant to represent
independent generic drug companies and
company suppliers;
* The National Association of Pharmaceutical
Manufacturers,
which is located in New York City and has a staff
of two to represent
generic drug companies and company suppliers.
Some
generic drug companies now belong to more than one
of the associations. By
merging, the groups hope to decrease
overlap in lobbying and to stop
duplicating administrative
functions. "When the transition occurs, it will
free up a lot of
money to work Capitol Hill and monitor states," said
Hansen.
Now each group often sends a lobbyist to
Capitol Hill to
work on the same issue, even though the positions of the
associations often are the same. However, said Hansen, "a lot of
times
there will be different wording or a different angle of
attack, and it
confuses members." Moreover, he said, "when they
have three people coming in
and telling them the same thing, they
get tired of it."
The new association will be based in Washington and is
likely
to have a staff of six to 10 people, including lobbyists,
policy
specialists, and support staff.
Industry
representatives are hoping the merged
association will help them better
address a host of upcoming
issues, including reopening the
Hatch-Waxman Act. The industry
also has a stake in the
debate over creating a prescription drug
benefit for Medicare. Industry
representatives want any Medicare
benefit to encourage the use of generics,
although they're
concerned that some legislators may attempt to include
generic
drugmakers in a requirement to have drugmakers provide rebates to
Medicare.
LOAD-DATE: March 29, 2000
