New Jersey lobbyist spending topped $70 million in 2015, with hospitals ranking second among special interest groups, according to an analysis of annual lobbying reports released March 3 by the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission.
Hospitals spent $4.8 million in 2015, up 42 percent over the previous year, the report stated.
The upsurge in hospital lobbyist spending is attributed to various factors.
The ELEC said hospitals, which traditionally are one of the most active lobbying groups,
faced several issues last year. One was the OMNIA plan proposed by Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey to create tiered networks.
A tax court ruling also prompted New Jersey lawmakers to look at the local tax obligations of nonprofit hospitals, the ELEC said.
Additionally, another issue generating widespread debate was a bill to resolve how providers and insurers resolve out-of-network billing disputes.
And another law allowed Cooper University Hospital in Camden, N.J., to take over paramedic services in Camden from Marlton, N.J.- based Virtua Health.
Virtua was among the top five overall New Jersey spenders on lobbyist communications in 2015.
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