Insurer Aetna spent $631,846 lobbying gov't in 2Q

WASHINGTON_Managed care company Aetna Inc. spent $631,846 in the second quarter to lobby the federal government on Medicare and Medicaid, health care reform and other insurance-related issues, according to a recent disclosure form.

The Hartford, Conn.-based insurer paid Avenue Solutions $60,000 in the quarter to lobby on coverage expansions, quality improvements, a government-run health plan and insurance market reforms, among other issues, as Congress debated plans to overhaul the nation's health care system.

An Aetna spokesman said the $60,000 was included in the insurer's overall spending total.

Aetna also lobbied on Medicaid drug rebates, government-run negotiations of Medicare drug prices, the COBRA coverage subsidy and medical malpractice liability reform.

Besides Congress, Aetna lobbied the White House, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and Department of Health and Human Services in the April-June period, according to a report filed July 14 with the House clerk's office.

Avenue Solutions had the same lobbying targets in its work for Aetna.

Aetna lobbyists included Molly Schild, a former employee of the Senate Finance Committee and a former special assistant to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Avenue Solutions lobbyists included Amy Tejral, a former legislative director for Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb.; and Tracy Spicer, a former deputy chief of staff, political director and legislative assistant for Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass.

Aetna's second-quarter spending total represents a 29 percent increase from the same quarter last year.