US healthcare spending neared $5 trillion in 2023, government report says
Usa Today - Dec 18th, 2024
In 2023, U.S. healthcare spending increased by 7.5% to $4.9 trillion, largely due to the rise in medical service usage and greater enrollment in private health plans, particularly through the Affordable Care Act. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) reported that healthcare spending surpassed economic growth, with a notable rise in retail prescription drug spending, especially for weight-loss and diabetes medications. Medicare prescription drug spending grew by 12.2%, influenced by increased use of GLP-1 medicines. Healthcare accounted for 17.6% of the U.S. economy, slightly higher than in 2022. Hospital care services saw a 10.4% spending increase, and commercial insurers now represent a larger share of spending due to higher enrollment in employer-sponsored and ACA plans. Enhanced subsidies from recent legislation contributed to 2.7 million people enrolling in ACA plans, with overall private health insurance enrollment up by 1.6%. By 2023, 92.5% of Americans had health insurance coverage.
RATING
The article provides a detailed overview of U.S. healthcare spending in 2023, focusing on increased costs driven by medical services and prescription drugs. It appears to be fact-based and well-structured, but lacks multiple perspectives and transparency about potential conflicts of interest.
RATING DETAILS
The article presents specific data on healthcare spending and growth rates, aligning with data typically released by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The figures for spending and economic growth are reported with precision, enhancing accuracy.
While the article provides detailed information on healthcare spending, it lacks diverse perspectives. It primarily focuses on data from CMS without including viewpoints from independent experts or stakeholders in the healthcare industry.
The language is clear and neutral, with technical terms explained in a straightforward manner. The structure is logical, starting with general spending trends and delving into specifics, making the article easy to follow.
The article cites the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, a credible and authoritative source for healthcare data. However, it does not provide information from other independent or corroborative sources that could enhance the depth of reporting.
There is a lack of disclosure regarding potential conflicts of interest or affiliations that may affect the impartiality of the reporting. The article does not mention any external influences on the data or report.