California ranked among the lowest in the nation for per-capita health spending in 2009. Still, the total was $230 billion.
Health spending represents a significant share of California’s economy, but the amount spent ranks among the lowest in the nation — both per person and per Medicaid enrollee. Since reaching its peak of 9.7% in 2003, the pace of growth in health spending has been decelerating. By 2009, toward the end of the recession, spending grew 4.5%, similar to the US rate of 4.6%, and the slowest pace since 1999.
Health Care Costs 101 is part of the California Healthcare Foundation’s California Health Care Almanac.
Highlights for 2009 include:
* Health spending in California reached $230 billion, triple 1991 levels.
* California’s per-capita spending of $6,238, was the ninth lowest in the nation. By comparison, the US spending per capita was $6,815.
* Health spending accounted for 12.2% of California’s economy — a smaller share of the economy than most states or the nation.
* Hospital and physician services continued to account for the majority of spending, totaling 63%.
* Medicare and Medicaid accounted for nearly 40% of California health spending, up from 27% in 1991.
Health Care Costs 101: California Addendum, 2012
I hope you find today’s post insightful. As a taxpayer, I like to see where my money is going. What about you? Leave me a word or two on how you feel.