The study analyzed more than 40 billion insurance claims and nearly 1 billion facility records to estimate healthcare spending for each of the 3,110 U.S. counties. Researchers captured 76.6% of personal healthcare spending from 2010 to 2019.
The most expensive health conditions in the 2010s were:
- Type 2 diabetes — $143.9 billion
- Joint pain and osteoporosis — $108.6 billion
- Oral disorders — $93 billion
- Ischemic heart disease — $80.7 billion
The health conditions with the fastest average annual per capita growth rate, with at least $5 billion in spending, were:
- Autism spectrum disorders — 13% growth rate
- Opioid use disorders — 9%
- Alcohol use disorders — 7%
- Other substance use disorders — 6%
The study revealed wide variation in healthcare expenditures across the U.S. The states with the lowest per capita healthcare spending were:
- Idaho: $6,028
- Utah: $6,147
- New Mexico: $6,368
The states with the highest per capita healthcare spending were:
- Alaska: $9,282
- New York: $9,115
- Massachusetts: $9,097
“[T]hese disparities in health care expenditures across states support the argument that some states have found more efficient ways to deliver care without escalating costs,” according to a news release. “Whether it is through innovative care models, more effective use of technology, or superior preventive care initiatives, they emphasize that these insights could guide a national strategy to modernize health care.”