Health Beat: New Hiring Leading To Health Care Spending Growth
by February 18, 2015 8:06 am 124 views
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NEW HIRING LEADING TO HEALTH CARE SPENDING GROWTH
Kaiser Family Foundation CEO Drew Altman writes in The Wall Street Journal about rising health care spending in the back half of 2014. He contends that most aspects of health care pricing are in check, but a look at employment numbers suggest it could be the reason for the uptick.
“The prices Americans pay for health services are a big problem, but the culprit behind the renewed growth we are seeing in spending is not the rising price of health services,” Altman writes.
He notes several stats from research group Altarum:
- Health spending grew 5.6% in December over the preceding year; it was up 4.5% in December 2013 compared with December 2012; and the 2012 figures were up 3.3% from the previous December.
- Health-care prices in December 2014 were just 1.8% above those in December 2013.
- Hospital prices grew just 0.9% in 2014.
- Drug prices have been rising more rapidly: 6.4% between December 2013 and December 2014.
“That can be a problem for consumers, but drugs represent 10% of national health spending so it doesn’t contribute a lot to overall spending increases,” Altman says.
He points to this Altarum report, which shows an increase in health care employment, for more clues.
CONG. BRUCE WESTERMAN: STATES NEED FLEXIBILITY WITH MEDICAID AND WORKFORCE INCENTIVES
Fourth District Congressman Bruce Westerman’s first bill filed aims to help Arkansas lawmakers have more flexibility in crafting a new health care overhaul.
“The goal of this legislation is not to create a work requirement in Arkansas, Utah, or any other state. The goal is simply to give our legislators in Little Rock the freedom to self-govern and set their own requirements for those able-bodied individuals seeking Medicaid assistance,” Westerman writes in this guest commentary for Talk Business & Politics.
FLOURIDE OPT-OUT MEASURE CLEARS COMMITTEE HURDLE
The House Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee voted 11-5 on Tuesday to approve House Bill 1355, sponsored by Rep. Jack Ladyman, R-Jonesboro. The bill would allow water suppliers around the state to opt out of putting fluoride in water.
Ladyman, who serves on the committee, said the issue was a matter of local control. Officials with the Arkansas Department of Health and Arkansas Children’s Hospital opposed the bill, citing healthcare costs. The bill now heads to the House.
WEB-CAM ABORTION RESTRICTIONS HEADED TO GOVERNOR
Within the week, Gov. Asa Hutchinson can expect to companion bills to land on his desk that will require doctors to be present when so-called “webcam abortions” are done.
Senate Bill 53, sponsored by Sen. Missy Irvin, R-Mountain View, and House Bill 1076, sponsored by Rep. Julie Mayberry, R-Hensley, have strong majority support in both chambers of the legislature. Each bill has passed several hurdles as they have traded ends of the capitol.
Supporters of both bills have stressed the safety of the mother as key for a reason to approve the bills, while opponents have said the bills would violate the Roe v. Wade ruling in the U.S. Supreme Court.