Healthcare organizations have funneled more than $46.7 million to candidates in the midterm election this year, according to Bloomberg.
Here are five things to know:
1. The data is from the Center for Responsive Politics, which keeps track of donations to candidates and active Congress members. The numbers include any donations given through Oct. 16. Under federal law, companies can't directly donate to political candidates. Instead, they form political action committees, which then donate to campaigns.
2. When contributions from employees from the various companies represented in the PAC are included, the total donated from the healthcare sector rises to $200 million, which is more than any other midterm election dating back to 1990, according to the report.
3. Of the money donated by healthcare PACs, 57 percent of the dollars went to Republican candidates.
4. Physician groups have spent more in this election than pharmaceutical companies, contributing $20.6 million to federal candidates. Of the provider PACs, the American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons spent the most, giving $1.37 million.
5. Advocates for lower drug prices have also spent a large sum of money this election cycle. For example, Patients for Affordable Drugs Action, has received almost $10 million in contributions and has spent nearly the same amount.