Grading health care's Gucci-Gulch gang

The term "special interest group" has never conjured up warm and fuzzy feelings, and certainly not among the pseudo-populist Clinton Administration as it tries to pull off health reform. But when these groups aren't using their lobbying muscles to kill or reshape legislation, they can genuinely help lawmakers understand the real-world effect of policy changes big and small. That's why the editorial staff of the Journal of American Health Policy decided to pass judgment on a dozen key health lobbying groups in its 1993 Report Card. Grades reflect the groups' impact on the legislative process, willingness to compromise, perceived level of integrity, and grass-roots organizing. As with previous report cards, we have graded on a curve.