National health spending in 2005: the slowdown continues

Abstract

In 2005, U.S. health care spending increased 6.9 percent to almost 2.0 trillion dollars, or 6,697 dollars per person. The health care portion of gross domestic product (GDP) was 16.0 percent, slightly higher than the 15.9 percent share in 2004. This third consecutive year of slower health spending growth was largely driven by prescription drug expenditures. Spending for hospital and physician and clinical services grew at similar rates as they did in 2004.