Federal officials warn that the current slump looks similar to other periods where they were followed by a recession. In such cases health spending tend to increase slower as compared to other sectors of the economy.
They also argue that the Affordable Care Act had a minimal effect on the general health care spending. In fact they believe that the law actually increased health spending by 0.1% between 2010 when it was passed as a law and the 2012.
"The trends we're seeing in the last few years are consistent with the historical relationship between health spending and overall economic growth," commented Micah Hartman, who is a statistician at the Medicare’s office of the actuary.
They also argue that the Affordable Care Act had a minimal effect on the general health care spending. In fact they believe that the law actually increased health spending by 0.1% between 2010 when it was passed as a law and the 2012.
"The trends we're seeing in the last few years are consistent with the historical relationship between health spending and overall economic growth," commented Micah Hartman, who is a statistician at the Medicare’s office of the actuary.