The article reported on the upward trend in health spending growth in 2011. In 2011, per capita and total spending on health care increased. For instance, between 2010 and 2011 estimated per capita expenditure for claims filed under employer-sponsored health insurance rose up to 4.6 percent (Roehrig, 2011). Based on age group, health spending increased significantly for children reaching 7.7 percent increase over 2010. Based on the region the HCCI report indicates that the Northeast had both the highest dollars spent per capita and the highest growth in spending. According to the producer price index, Medicare prices increased by 1.4 percent, while hospital prices increased by 2.1. Similarly, The growth in spending in 2011 accelerated faster than in 2010 for personal health care products.
However, in 2011 the net cost of insurance and non-commercial, medical research increased compared to 2010. There was also a slowdown in the government spending on the public health services (MEDICAL care 5). The drop in health spending growth was more than what was observed in the aggregate per capita national data provided by the Charles. This means that spending growth was actually slower in the large firm data than in overall national health expenditures. Growth in the large firm sample remained low in 2011, consistent with the observation of the Health Care Cost Institute (HCCI).
Findings suggest that the slowdown in the growth of health spending may continue and would have a major impact on health spending projections and fiscal challenges facing various countries, especially in the United states (David and Sahni 842). However, the data should be analyzed properly to ascertain whether the increase in spending project upward trend which can result in inflation. Therefore, the slowdown in health spending in 2011 reflected factors other than a weak economy as portrayed by the Charles analysis.
Works Cited
David, Cutler, and Sahni Nikhil. "If Slow Rate Of Health Care Spending Growth Persists, Projections May Be Off By $770 Billion." Health Affairs 32.5 (2013): 841-850. Web.
MEDICAL care. "Health Care Cost and Utilization Report 2011." Medical Benefits.30.2 (2013): 5-6. Web.
Roehrig, Charles. "2011 Health Spending Growth Ticks Up: Should We Be Concerned? – Health Affairs Blog." Health Affairs Blog. N.p., 1 Oct. 2012. Web. 18 Feb. 2014. <http://healthaffairs.org/blog/2012/10/01/2011-health-spending-growth-ticks-up-should- we-be-concerned/>.
