National health expenditures in July rose 4.2 percent compared with July 2011, and it was a slight increase from the 3.9 percent growth rate this past June, 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, up slightly from $2.83 trillion in June. Health spending accounted for 18.1 percent of the nation's gross domestic product, which has been similar to the previous months this year.
Healthcare prices (pdf) were 1.9 percent higher in July 2012 compared with July 2011. Hospital and physician prices grew at 2.1 percent and 1.2 percent, respectively. Prescription drug prices continue to be the highest among all healthcare price categories. They grew 3.9 percent, up from 3.5 percent in June.
Overall U.S. health spending was at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $2.84 trillion, up slightly from $2.83 trillion in June. Health spending accounted for 18.1 percent of the nation's gross domestic product, which has been similar to the previous months this year.
Healthcare prices (pdf) were 1.9 percent higher in July 2012 compared with July 2011. Hospital and physician prices grew at 2.1 percent and 1.2 percent, respectively. Prescription drug prices continue to be the highest among all healthcare price categories. They grew 3.9 percent, up from 3.5 percent in June.
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