Health care industry groups are the most effective advocates for their industries in Washington, D.C., according to a survey of policy leaders conducted by the advocacy communications consultancy APCO Worldwide.

APCO asked policy leaders to evaluate five randomly selected associations from a list of 50 groups in the D.C. region. The results were then compiled in a TradeMarks Index score that graded advocacy effectiveness from a low of 0 to a high of 100.

The health care sector received a 69.4 TMI, according to APCO. Financial services groups came in next at 67.6 with manufacturing close behind at 67.5. The aggregate score across all groups was 66.3.

APCO has conducted the survey annually since 2013. This year's aggregate score is the highest yet, beating out last year's score of 65 and the previous high of 65.2.

"Our survey results show associations have adapted to be effective advocates for their members by not only focusing on broadening their relationships and adjusting strategy and tactics to reflect the current political landscape, but also by being prepared to move quickly when issues affecting their members arise." said Bill Dalbec, the study's principal investigator and managing director of APCO Insight.

Among individual groups, the firm identified six associations has top performers in various areas of advocacy:

• Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America - lobbying
• Advanced Medical Technology Association - multilateral impact, bipartisanship, information resource
• Edison Electric Institute - unified voice, local impact, membership mobilization, member representation, self-regulation, self-regulation
• Consumer Technology Association - social media, events
• American Wind Energy Association - media relations
• National Federation of Independent Business - coalition building, industry reputation steward, grassroots

Full results can be found on APCO's website.

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