For the first time since quarter one of 2014, healthcare spending growth fell below 4 percent in the second quarter of 2017, according to an analysis out of the Altarum Institute.
The Health Sector Trend Report from Altarum's Center for Sustainable Health Spending comprises data from the center's Health Sector Economic Indicators and the U.S. Census Bureau's Quarterly Services Survey.
Here are four additional findings from the report.
1. The Altarum Center estimates healthcare spending growth will be 4.4 percent for the first half of 2017. This is compared to 4.6 percent growth for all of 2016.
2. Healthcare services spending fell to 3.5 percent in the second quarter of 2017, compared to slightly more than 5 percent in the same quarter of 2016.
3. Hospital spending growth grew at 1.3 percent in the second quarter of this year.
4. Prescription drug spending grew at 5.2 percent in the second quarter of 2017. However, this does not include changes in rebates.
Access the full report here.