Altarum Institute's March health price report (which tracks only the price component of health spending growth) shows a muted year-over-year increase of only 1.1%, indicating that utilization is the primary cause of the overall 7% spending growth.
http://altarum.org/sites/default/files/uploaded-related-files/CSHS-Price-Brief_May%202014_0.pdfSpeaking of poor research (see today’s Commentary) a study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine finds that Massachusetts’ health reform led to reduced mortality rates, a likely flawed study with untested correlates. The more credible Oregon Medicaid lottery study finds no such effect on mortality.
