Stunted growth. Spending growth--dampened by Medicaid, Medicare--dropped for the first time in 7 years, but consumers still paid big bucks
Barr, P.
Modern Healthcare 35(3): 6-7; 1
2005
ISSN/ISBN: 0160-7480 PMID: 15696656 Document Number: 594367
Healthcare spending growth dropped for the first time in seven years in 2003, but spending still hit a record amount--1.7 trillion dollars. Some observers say the numbers don't support any particular approach to fixing healthcare. And some say the continued absolute rise in costs, despite efforts to rein them in, shows that privatization isn't working. "I don't think you'll continue to see a decrease," said the Ochsner Clinic Foundation's Warner Thomas.