Do doctors get money from drug stores for medicines they prescribe?

In past years, physicians in private practice often received incentives as small as personalized prescription pads and notepads, to as large as helping to set up their office practice and "symposiums" held in vacation areas or even overseas. As the American Medical Association felt this was unethical, this practice has been restricted today to notepads, pens, and small office lunches thought to be of small value, and therefore os less likelihood as to be considered "influence-peddling" . Probably the items provided of most value to private physicians today are free samples, usually dispensed from the office for a 2-5 day supply of starter meds. Though the value of these supplies are undetermined, the average office has quantities of meds sufficient to fill small closets. Their inherent value is that many patients are known to see particular physicians who regularly give them samples, as a method of retention of them as patients.