Mark Collen has an important discussion of the profit motive that drives drug testing in America’s health system. Read the whole thing if you are interested, it is important:
Random drug testing of people being treated for chronic pain has become more common. Physicians may drug test patients on opioid therapy as a result of concerns over prosecution, drug misuse, addiction, and overdose. However, profit motive has remained unexplored. This article suggests profits also drive physician drug-testing behavior and evidence is offered, including an exploration of Medicare reimbursement incentives and kickbacks for drug testing.
Ducks and Economics 