Patients are taught what to want by doctors who prescribe new tests.

But they say it has gone too far in restricting their authority to prescribe tests, hospital stays or referrals.

"The art of medicine doesn't always have to be pushing pills and prescribing tests."

Your doctor may also prescribe tests such as:

Although different testing organizations may prescribe different tests as part of System testing, this list serves as a general framework or foundation to begin with.

The system is also used to detect when doctors prescribe excessive diagnostic tests.

Since Mayo doctors receive a salary and not a fee for each service, they lack the financial temptation to prescribe unneeded tests or procedures.

For example, customers would learn which H.M.O.'s reward doctors who prescribe few tests.

Appellees stress the language of the second sentence, which prescribes such "tests as are necessary" to make a finding of gestational age, fetal weight and lung maturity.

The association attributes $5.6 billion to malpractice insurance premiums and about $15 billion to defensive tactics that doctors take, like prescribing redundant diagnostic tests.