National health expenditures in August rose 3.8 percent in the past 12 months, compared with a 4.6 percent rate in August 2011, and it was a slight decrease from the 4.2 percent growth rate this past July, according to a report from the Altarum Institute's Center for Sustainable Health Spending (pdf).
Overall U.S. health spending was at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $2.84 trillion, the same as July. Health spending accounted for 17.9 percent of the nation's gross domestic product, which has been similar to the previous months this year.
Healthcare prices (pdf) were 2.4 percent higher in August 2012 compared with August 2011. Hospital and physician prices grew at 3.6 percent and 1 percent, respectively. Prescription drug prices continue to be the highest among all healthcare price categories. They grew 4 percent, up slightly from 3.9 percent in July.
Overall U.S. health spending was at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $2.84 trillion, the same as July. Health spending accounted for 17.9 percent of the nation's gross domestic product, which has been similar to the previous months this year.
Healthcare prices (pdf) were 2.4 percent higher in August 2012 compared with August 2011. Hospital and physician prices grew at 3.6 percent and 1 percent, respectively. Prescription drug prices continue to be the highest among all healthcare price categories. They grew 4 percent, up slightly from 3.9 percent in July.
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