The report, The Cost of Caring, found that spending for hospital care grew 4.5 percent between 2007 and 2008, lower than any other healthcare service, including insurance premiums.
Rising costs to hospitals for goods and services purchased to provide care accounted for 64 percent of the growth in spending from 2004 to 2008, while rising demand for services accounted for 34 percent. Growth in labor costs were also a significant factor as this growth also attributed in growth in the costs of purchased goods and services.
Read AHANewsNow’s report on hospital spending growth.
