Insurer Aetna's 4Q lobbying spending up 55 pct

Hartford health insurer Aetna Inc. spent $802,573 in the fourth quarter of 2009 lobbying the federal government on health care reform and several other topics, the Associated Press reports.

It was a 55 percent increase in spending from the fourth quarter of 2008 for the insurer, and it came at a time when Congress picked up debate on a possible health system overhaul.

Aetna's lobbying topics included reform-related proposals like one that would prevent insurers from using pre-existing conditions to exclude policyholders. Aetna also lobbied about subsidies to help people continue their employer-sponsored insurance if they leave a job, Medicare drug prices, antitrust exemptions for pharmacists and doctors, and a proposed Medicare buy-in for people ages 55 to 64.

Aetna also lobbied the White House, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the Department of Health and Human Services as well as the Office of Management and Budget in the October to December period, according to a lobbying report filed with the Clerk of the House of Representatives.