Health Affairs, 27, no. 1 (2008): 30-32 doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.27.1.30 © 2008 by Project HOPE	New Online   New Issue: China & India   Obesity In China   Pay Cuts For Medicare Docs   Access To Care Woes

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Perspective

PERSPECTIVE

Don’t Break Out The Champagne: Continued Slowing Of Health Care Spending Growth Unlikely To Last

Aaron Catlin and colleagues report a fourth year of slowing of the rate of growth of personal health care spending. But many factors indicate that relief for purchasers and consumers will be short-lived. Research on local health care markets suggests that rapid expansion of provider capacity and incentives to increase volume of care are continuing. Increasing incidence of obesity is a major factor behind rising costs. The influence of the economic cycle on health spending, which has lowered the trend in recent years, is likely to reverse its impact shortly.

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