A Public Citizen analysis found pharmaceutical companies provided lawmakers who opposed the Obama administration's Medicare Part B payment proposal substantially more financial support, according to STAT.
In May, a group of legislators implored the Obama administration to get rid of their proposed payment changes to Medicare Part B. In their letter, legislators cautioned the program may harm patients by limiting their access to treatment.
Here are four insights:
1. Companies paid 310 lawmakers who opposed Medicare Part B overhaul more than $7.2 million for their 2016 campaign, which averaged more than $23,000 per representative.
2. However, 124 legislators who did not sign the letter received only $1.6 million from pharmaceutical companies for their campaign, which totaled $12,700 on average, per representative.
3. These contributions reinforce pharmaceutical companies' desire to reinforce they will act in their power to combat any effort to change Medicare drug pricing, according to STAT.
4. However, the analysis shows Republican Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy and House Speaker Paul Ryan received signification contributions, and neither legislator signed the letter. Speaker Ryan received $290,000 and Majority Leader McCarthy received $293,000.
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