U.S. Health Spending Again Growing Faster, Data Suggest
After five years of historically slow growth, an Altarum Institute analysis based on preliminary government data shows that health spending increased by 5 percent last year. Meanwhile, Modern Healthcare reports that prices paid to acute-care hospitals declined in January compared with the same month a year ago. And The New York Times reports on a study that found three eye drugs, ranging in price from $50 to $1950 a dose, are equally effective in most cases.
Bloomberg:
U.S. Health Care Spending Is On The Rise Again
The national medical bill may be back to growing faster than gross domestic product. After five years of historically slow growth, new data show U.S. health-care spending accelerated significantly in 2014. The analysis, from the Altarum Institute research group and based on preliminary government data, shows health spending increasing by 5 percent last year, compared to 3.6 percent in 2013. If confirmed by the final tally, health-care spending during 2014 would mark the biggest jump since before the recession. (Tozzi, 2/18)
Modern Healthcare:
Here's A First: January Hospital Prices Lower Than Year Ago
The prices that health insurers paid to acute-care hospitals declined in January compared with the same month a year ago, a first since federal officials began to collect such data. Public sector and private payer efforts to push down costs could explain the drop, experts said. (Evans, 2/18)
The New York Times:
3 Drugs For An Eye Disease, With Big Price Gaps, Are Found To Be Equals
At a time of rising concern over the cost of medicines, a government-funded study has found that three drugs, ranging in price from $50 to $1,950 a dose, are equally effective in treating many cases of a common form of vision loss caused by diabetes. But the most expensive drug – Eylea, sold by Regeneron Pharmaceuticals – was more effective for patients who had poorer vision before starting treatment. (Pollack, 2/18)
