Case Study: Government Affairs and Public Policy
Many legislative issues affect Baxter's business – reimbursement, tax, trade and a variety of regulatory concerns. Baxter's Government Affairs and Public Policy (GAPP) teams work with lawmakers, governments and policymakers across the globe to support patient access to Baxter's life-saving therapies, increase understanding of the benefits of those therapies, address barriers to care and explore possible solutions. This includes working directly with governments to improve the regulatory environment and reimbursement structure for Baxter's therapies, and collaborating with clinicians, NGOs and patient groups on other coordinated efforts to increase access to care for millions of patients around the world.
For example, in the United States, through direct lobbying and coordinating with the hemophilia community, U.S. GAPP helped influence laws and regulations in key states to protect patient access to anti-hemophilic clotting factor through state Medicaid programs. In Cleveland, Mississippi, the team helped Baxter obtain a $24-million investment from the state to upgrade Baxter's manufacturing plant there, which opened in 1950 and remains Baxter's longest operating U.S. plant.
In Asia, Europe and Latin America, Baxter works to position itself socio-economically in the local environment. Communication occurs most often through local health ministries and industry associations. In most markets around the world, patient needs drive Baxter's legislative and regulatory agenda to help advance appropriate therapies and policies.
