The average per capita cost of hospital services covered by Medicare and commercial payers grew 2.3 percent from July 2012 to July 2013, up from the 2.1 percent growth rate reported in June, according to Standard & Poor's Healthcare Economic Indices through July.
The annual growth rate for all S&P healthcare economic indices stayed flat in July. S&P's Healthcare Economic Composite Index showed an annual growth rate of 3.06 percent, showing no change from the rate recorded in June.
Although revenue growth rates for hospitals and health systems from payers rose in July, they are still lower than rates recorded in September 2012, when S&P's Hospital Index hit its lowest annual rate (3.84 percent) since January 2005.
Here are the latest S&P healthcare indices through July 2013:
S&P Healthcare Economic Indices (12-Month Moving Average)
Composite Index: 3.06 percent
Medicare Index: 1.4 percent
Commercial Index: 4.15 percent
Hospital Index: 2.3 percent
Hospital Medicare Index: 2.29 percent
Hospital Commercial Index: 2.3 percent
Professional Services Index: 3.7 percent
Professional Services Medicare Index: -0.26 percent
Professional Services Commercial Index: 5.77 percent
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