Forbes magazine reported that reports from the lobbyist show that Kindred Healthcare spent over one million in lobbying the federal government last year.  Kindred Healthcare operates hospitals, rehabilitation centers and imaging centers.  The group lobbied the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid services, the Health and Human Services Department (this federal department oversees nursing homes) and the Office of Management & Budget.

It is unfortunate that there are no organizations for patients and the elderly which can compete with the amount of money spent by big companies to lobby the federal and state governments to pass laws to favor the medical providers.  It is even more outlandish that these big companies routinely complain about “frivolous lawsuits” when they have so successfully lobbied the government for numerous laws protecting them.  Medical malpractice cap on damage award is only one of them many laws protecting them.  There are many other laws which protect the medical providers that other companies that are not healthcare providers do not share the same protection.  For example, there are strenuous requirements for expert reports and protection of incident report.