Tag: Health expenditures

WASHINGTON - Overall national health expenditures grew by 5.3% in 2014, as millions of uninsured Americans gained health coverage through the Affordable Care Act, the CMS Office of the Actuary reported Dec. 2.The report also credits rapidly rising prescription drug costs for the growth.“Still, the rate of growth remains below the level in most years prior to the coverage expansion, while out-of-pocket costs grew at the fifth lowest level on record,” said CMS Acting Administrator Andy...

WASHINGTON - Overall national health expenditures grew at an annual rate of 3.7% in 2012, marking the fourth consecutive year of low growth, the CMS Office of the Actuary reported Jan. 7.Health spending as a share of gross domestic product fell slightly from 17.3% in 2011 to 17.2% in 2012.“For the second straight year, we have seen overall healthcare costs grow slower than the economy as a whole,” said CMS Administrator Marilyn Tavenner in a release. “This is good news. We will...