When you have an Advantage plan it is through an insurance company they receive a set amount per year for all of your Part B
care, based on a formula with some additions for preexisting conditions. If they spend less than Medicare gives them, they profit. If they spend more, they have a loss. The insurance company determines who their preferred providers are. If the doctor helps the insurance company keep costs low, they may get a bonus at the end of the year, spend too much and they get removed from the preferred provider list, so have fewer patients.

So the question becomes, is the doctor really looking out for patient's best interest or trying to help the insurance company cut costs?

Here is one thing you can do - look at the prescription drug formulary to see whether the drug is covered by Medicare Part B or Part D. That controls how the drug is to be dispensed and paid for.

Who knew getting older could be so complicated?