drug companies

Leaked emails expose the real ObamaCare powers

When the government seizes control of an industry -- any industry, I don't care what it is -- it's never about the "good of the people."

Sure, those are the noises they'll make. But it's really just about expanding the government's power over its people and rewarding those who help them keep that power -- and punishing those who don't play ball.

And there's no better example of this Creeping Cronyism than ObamaCare.

Newly surfaced emails show that despite General Secretary Obama's promises of an open and public debate, the usual wheeling and dealing took place behind the scenes.

You know how that works: Whoever writes the big checks holds all the cards -- and when it comes to healthcare, no one writes bigger checks than Big Pharma.

So the drug industry paid $70 million to front two pro-ObamaCare Astroturf campaigns and $150 million in pro-ObamaCare TV ads that were coordinated with the White House to pressure on-the-fence lawmakers into toeing the line.

It worked, too.

Now, you know Big Pharma didn't write those checks because they believe in the dream of universal healthcare and they certainly didn't do it because they like the guy. No, they spent those millions to get some $20 billion in savings from ObamaCare rules, such as protection from "re-importation."

That's when drugs are bought overseas at lower prices than what the drug companies charge here, and then resold to American consumers at a saving.

In many ways, it's the ultimate global free-market move, and it was supposed to be a key cost-saving measure in ObamaCare.

Instead, it's not even up for discussion.

The newly released emails are an outrage and affront to whatever remains of our tattered democracy. But there's one part I can't help but laugh at -- and that's the American Medical Association's sad attempts to get a seat at the ObamaCare table.

They wanted to make sure their doctors would get paid more, or at least not get paid less through shrinking Medicare reimbursements.

But since they only offered to kick in a measly $2 million, they couldn't even get anyone to return their phone calls.

Ever get the sense that your doctor isn't being completely straight with you?

You're not just paranoid. A new survey finds that many docs think it's OK to lie to their patients about everything from their cozy relationships with drug companies to serious medical mistakes.

In fact, more than a third of them say patients don't need to know when their care has been botched.

This isn't just "in theory," mind you. In the past year alone, a full 20 percent of doctors say they've made a medical mistake they didn't tell the patient about -- and these are just the ones who'll admit to it.

God knows how many others have done it, but won't cop to it even in an anonymous survey.

Another 11 percent admit to telling an out-and-out lie to a patient or a child's parent, and a full 55 percent say they've given their patients a more optimistic prognosis than what they really deserve.

Truth? You can't handle the truth!

And that's not the only funny business docs are 'fessing up to: Thirty-five percent say they don't need to tell their patients about any money they collect from drug companies, even if they're prescribing the patient a med from that company.

I wish I could say I'm surprised by the survey published in Health Affairs… but I'm not.

The sad reality is the one place where you're most vulnerable -- the exam room, where you're naked except for a paper robe -- is the one place you should never let your guard down.