Generic Drugs Sampled Freely In Aetna Test.

Reports that several insurers are paying to put ATM-style machines dispensing generic-drug samples in doctors' offices around the United States. Plans of Aetna Inc. to roll out a pilot program in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Statistics indicating the number of branded drug samples handed out by pharmaceutical companies to physicians in the U.S., according to data from IMS Health; Reasons why makers of low-cost generic drugs do not hand out samples; Advantages of the generic-drug dispensers relative to the branded samples; Why doctors like to have drug samples on hand.