Biomet, a medical device maker, is meeting with advocacy groups to make sure specialists don't get squeezed out in health care reform.

Bill Kolter, Biomet's vice president of government and public affairs, came to Washington to meet with advocacy groups -- the Committee for Economic Development and the National Federation of Independent Businesses -- looking for common ground on reform goals.

Kolter said the drumbeat from the Obama administration that specialists are contributing to higher costs and lower quality prompted Biomet to join the discussion. "Prevention and access to primary care physicians is great," said Kolter. "But access to specialists for people who need them cannot be compromised."

Making sure that patients have access to specialists and that health care reform maintains a balance between quality, cost and access is a top priority for Biomet, which is based in Warsaw, Ind. The company makes specialized medical devices such as dental implants, spinal hardware and joint replacements.

In 2008 and the first half of 2009, Biomet spent $360,000 on federal lobbying. The company supports the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Act of 2009, a bill sponsored by Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., and Senate Budget Chairman Kent Conrad, D-N.D. Introduced in June, the legislation would establish a private, nonprofit body to generate scientific evidence and new information on treatments for diseases, disorders and other health conditions.