Do doctors make money from some of the test they order and medicines they prescribe?

Question

I was told they do, just wondering.

Answer 1

They don't get kickbacks from prescriptions. They *might* get reimbursed for some tests, depending on the test and where it's performed. If it's a lab or x-ray done in their office, yes, they will get paid for it. If it's done in an outside lab or x-ray unit, they won't get paid for it.

Answer 2

NO That's positively NOT TRUE !Most of us in the medical profession take an oath to protect our patients and to "Do no harm"is the first line of the Hippocratic oath.It's not ethical to practice medicine under those circumstances,and the MD who did would readily be reported to the state medical boards.Reps from the drug companies can reccomend that the MD try some of the new medicines,and leave samples to give to patients.But MD's do not get a kickback for prescribing these meds or ordering a lab test.Take care. SW RNP

Answer 3

About ten to fifteen years ago there were companies offering to supply doctors' offices with common prescription drugs that the docs could in turn, sell to their patients, bypassing the pharmacy. While not illegal, there were ethical challenges. The national and local pharmaceutical associations cried foul and the AMA and other medical associations were cool to the concept. I guess the practice continues. It is not common in my locale.

There used to be a profit associated with office procedures such as blood counts, urinalyses, throat and urine cultures, etc. Again, some docs abused the process, buying substandard lab analyzers and ordering unnecessary test panels to pad their income. To counter this, congress passed CLIA, the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act that put many expensive requirements and restrictions on office laboratory procedures. While it put a big damper on abuse, it also halted many useful procedures that could be performed in an office lab because of time and expense to comply with CLIA. Current insurance reimbursement is so low that most patients are sent to commercial or hospital laboratories, causing inconvenience and delay to the patient.

Receiving kickbacks from pharmacies, hospitals or labs is unethical, and illegal where I practice.

Answer 4

Yes, they do.Maybe not the test, but they do from the medicine. If you have a sleeping problem like I had one doctor may give you ambien while the other may prescribe lunesta.

Answer 5

drug companies will give doctors incentives to prescribe their drugs. it may not be paying them stright up, although that has been known to happen. Read The Truth about Drug Companies by Angell. not to sure about tests that docs order

Answer 6

Are you kidding? They might not get paid for anything but they do get benefits such as nice dinners and vacations for the entire family. Nothing is free.

Answer 7

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Answer 8

No, no and no.