National Health Care Spending Slows

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Here are the key findings for 2007 from a report produced by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. There are more details in Health Affairs.

- National Health Care spending slowed in 2007 to 6.1%, lowest growth rate since 1998

- The US spent $2.2 trillion on health care...$7,421 per person

- Health Care was 16.2% of the GDP

- The main reason for the slower growth rate was that retail drug spending grew at 4.9%, the lowest rate of increase since 1963. More people are taking generic drugs and the cost of prescription drugs did not increase as quickly as in past years.

- Most other major services grew at the same rate or a bit faster than in 2006

- There was a one-time effect of the implementation of Medicare Part D. Medicare and Medicaid growth rates return to levels seen pre-2006.