U.S. healthcare prices increased in September 2011, rising 0.2 percent over August prices, according to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The BLS' Producer Price Indices measure average changes in selling prices received by domestic producers for their output. The September PPI report indicated that prices across the range of healthcare industries were 2.0 percent higher than a year ago.
The PPI translates into actual or expected reimbursement for a sample of treatments or services.
[See also: Healthcare prices inched up in August.]
In the August-through-September period, prices received by physician offices rose 0.5 percent, while hospital prices increased only 0.1 percent. The PPI for dentist offices experienced a sizable bump, increasing by 0.4 percent.
The PPIs of some other key healthcare sectors were mixed last month. Prices received by home healthcare services rose 0.2 percent from August through September. In contrast, prices in the medical and diagnostic laboratory sector actually dropped 0.1 percent, while prices received by residential mental retardation facilities experienced a boost of 0.8 percent, the largest in the industry.
The PPI for blood and organ banks fell 0.1 percent across the month, while the PPI at nursing care facilities increased 0.1 percent.
Comparing September 2010 to September 2011, healthcare PPIs rose 2.0 percent.
For instance, overall hospital prices were 2.1 percent higher in September than a year ago, while physician office prices were 1.6 percent higher. Nursing care facility prices increased 3.1 percent from September 2010 to September 2011 but prices for home healthcare services rose only 0.1 percent across the 12-month period.
The PPI for medical and diagnostic laboratories increased 0.2 percent from September 2010 to September 2011, while residential mental retardation facilities saw prices rise 2.2 percent through the year. Blood and organ banks experienced a PPI increase of 0.8 percent in the same period.
The PPIs for healthcare industry segments measure changes in actual or expected reimbursement received for services across the full range of payer types. This includes the negotiated contract rate from the payer plus any portion expected to be paid by the patient.
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