I had grand ambitions about posting today an in-depth thing and may still rally to do that but, you know, I’m under the gun on so much stuff that I’m taking the easy way out but not necessarily by not giving up something important. Check this out, from The Wall Street Journal this morning:

Unions Say CVS Pushed Costly Drug to Doctors

By DAVID ARMSTRONG

A group of labor unions is launching a campaign that accuses CVS Caremark Corp. of violating patient privacy and improperly pushing doctors to prescribe a costly prescription drug.

Change to Win, a group of unions that represents about six million workers, said CVS’s pharmacy benefits management business has been urging doctors via a letter to add Merck & Co. diabetes drug Januvia to specific patients’ treatments. The letter, obtained by the union group, said CVS identified the diabetes patients through a review of prescription-drug claims processed by its Caremark unit.

   And…

Januvia is as much as eight times more expensive than many other diabetes treatments, according to a recent study. Some medical experts say patients may not need the drug and may respond just as well to older, cheaper treatments.

   There is nothing on CTW’s website yet about the campaign (and, frankly, I don’t find the CTW website very good at pushing campaigns). But, if someone else sees it, by all means, give us a link.

   I do like the idea of this campaign. And it underscores, again, why we need a single-payer health care system. I mean, why is this not an actual crime, as opposed to a moral crime: forcing people to pay EIGHT TIMES more for a drug. These folks are criminals. God, the end of this private insurance industry racket can’t come to soon.

   Okay, if I can, I’ll get back here later. But, otherwise, have a great weekend.