Too often, doctors and other health providers order tests, screening exams or treatments that may not be necessary because they want to protect themselves from later malpractice suits. Such overuse of services raises the risk of harm from unnecessary care and drives up health care costs for patients and insurers. There is some debate about whether defensive medicine motivates health care providers or if other factors are involved, such as how providers are trained and paid. Some providers have been trained to do more rather than less, at least initially, and then do more if needed. Also, some providers are paid under a fee-for-service system in which they can increase income by providing more treatment whether that increased treatment is necessary, beneficial or not.
