I don't see the problem being that Doctor A gives you more drugs. I see the problem as Doctor A gives you more drugs at very little cost to the patient. Lots of

I don't see the problem being that Doctor A gives you more drugs. I see the problem as Doctor A gives you more drugs at very little cost to the patient. Lots of patients would much rather pay the relatively minuscule co-pay to have three alternative drugs than just get one and risk having to go back to the doctor for a different prescription if that one didnt work. It is all about incentives. Most PPO systems encourage everyone to spend more money. - Doctor's want to sell more (and more expensive) drugs. They make more money that way. - Patients on many PPO plans pay a small flat fee for each drug. Why not go with the more "expensive" one? Its all the same to the patient. - The government and insurance companies work together to outlaw cheap plans and force people to over-buy for coverage the patients either don't need or expenses that are predictable.