A new study by the Robert Johnson Wood Foundation found that out-of-pocket healthcare costs rose moderately under the PPACA last year, according to The Hill.
The study, which included data from 15,000 physicians, revealed that the amount of money a patient spent per visit increased by 3.5 percent over the past year, totaling about $1 per visit, including co-payments and deductibles.
Deductibles also increased for every type of physician visit by an average of $8 last year. Overall, primary care physicians saw higher rates of reimbursement compared to other physicians, which is likely due to the focus on preventative healthcare under the PPACA and insurers' encouraging members to use primary care rather than more costly specialty care, according to the study.
The study's findings contradict PPACA critics' opinion that out-of-pocket costs would skyrocket, according to the report.