Health Sector Trend Report, May 2017

In this May 2017 report, Q1 2017 spending estimates are based upon our own analysis of Advance QSS data as they will not be reflected in Altarum's Health Sector Economic Indicators briefs until next month.

Following are highlights from this month's report:

• Health spending growth in Q1 2017 remains stubbornly above 5%, despite leveling off in coverage. 
• Health care price growth remains low at 2.0% in Q1 2017, with physician prices at 0.4%, hospital prices at 1.6%, and prescription drug prices at 5.3%. 
• Average monthly health job growth slowed to 19,000 in Q1 2017, about 40% below the 32,000 average for 2016. This pattern continued into April, which showed 19,500 new jobs.

Download the full report to view additional detail and analysis.

About Altarum's Health Sector Trend Reports

With funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Altarum provides analysis of key trends in health care spending, prices, utilization, and employment. These reports make direct use of the Quarterly Services Survey (QSS), the timeliest source of detailed, survey-based spending information for health care services, which account for more than 70% of national health spending.

These trend reports are related to, but distinct from, Altarum's Health Sector Economic Indicators briefs, and were published monthly prior to Q1 2018.

In this May 2017 report, Q1 2017 spending estimates are based upon our own analysis of Advance QSS data as they will not be reflected in Altarum's Health Sector Economic Indicators briefs until next month.

Following are highlights from this month's report:

• Health spending growth in Q1 2017 remains stubbornly above 5%, despite leveling off in coverage. 
• Health care price growth remains low at 2.0% in Q1 2017, with physician prices at 0.4%, hospital prices at 1.6%, and prescription drug prices at 5.3%. 
• Average monthly health job growth slowed to 19,000 in Q1 2017, about 40% below the 32,000 average for 2016. This pattern continued into April, which showed 19,500 new jobs.

Download the full report to view additional detail and analysis.

About Altarum's Health Sector Trend Reports

With funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Altarum provides analysis of key trends in health care spending, prices, utilization, and employment. These reports make direct use of the Quarterly Services Survey (QSS), the timeliest source of detailed, survey-based spending information for health care services, which account for more than 70% of national health spending.

These trend reports are related to, but distinct from, Altarum's Health Sector Economic Indicators briefs, and were published monthly prior to Q1 2018.