U.S. healthcare spending rose 7.4% last year
U.S. healthcare spending grew 7.4% in 2005 to surpass $2 trillion and is expected to grow 7.3% in 2006, the CMS said in an annual report. Thats down from a recent peak of 9.1% growth in 2002. The increase in spending on hospital services, 7.9%, outpaced overall healthcare spending growth for the second year in a row. The CMS said Medicare spending will exceed $790 billion in 2015, up from $309 billion in 2004. Medicaid spending, meanwhile, will hit $670 billion in 2015, up from $293 billion in 2004.
