National health expenditures in May 2012 increased 3.8 percent compared with May 2011, making it yet another month of modest health spending growth, according to a report from the Altarum Institute's Center for Sustainable Health Spending (pdf).
Health spending in May was at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $2.8 trillion, a tick above the $2.79 trillion recorded in April 2012. Still, spending was down from 4.2 percent recorded in April. Overall, national healthcare expenditures are remaining consistent at 18 percent of gross domestic product.
Healthcare prices (pdf) were 2 percent higher in May 2012 year-over-year. Hospital and physician prices grew at 2.2 percent and 1.4 percent, respectively — the same figures from April. Prescription drug price growth shot up 3.3 percent in May 2012 compared with May 2011.
The healthcare sector added 13,000 jobs in June 2012, below its usual 24-month average of 25,000.
Health spending in May was at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $2.8 trillion, a tick above the $2.79 trillion recorded in April 2012. Still, spending was down from 4.2 percent recorded in April. Overall, national healthcare expenditures are remaining consistent at 18 percent of gross domestic product.
Healthcare prices (pdf) were 2 percent higher in May 2012 year-over-year. Hospital and physician prices grew at 2.2 percent and 1.4 percent, respectively — the same figures from April. Prescription drug price growth shot up 3.3 percent in May 2012 compared with May 2011.
The healthcare sector added 13,000 jobs in June 2012, below its usual 24-month average of 25,000.
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