Overall U.S. healthcare prices increased marginally from March 2011 to April 2011, rising 0.1 percent, according to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics.
According to the BLS' Producer Price Indices, which measure average changes in selling prices received by domestic producers for their output, prices across the range of healthcare industries were 1.6 percent higher than a year ago.
The PPI translates into actual or expected reimbursement for a sample of treatments or services.
[Compare the current healthcare PPI data to the 2010 year-end report]
In the March-to-April period, pricing activity was mixed, falling slightly in two sectors but increasing incrementally in others. Hospital prices rose 0.2 percent across the month, while physician office prices fell 0.1 percent. The PPI for dentist offices also trended down, falling 0.1 percent.
Prices for home healthcare services remained steady from March to April, as did the PPI for blood and organ banks.
Other sectors seeing a PPI increase were nursing care facilities and medical and diagnostic laboratories, where prices rose 0.2 percent at the former and 0.1 percent at the latter. Residential mental retardation facilities also experienced a PPI increased of 0.2 percent.
Comparing April 2010 to April 2011, healthcare PPIs rose 1.6 percent.
For instance, overall hospital prices were 1.5 percent higher in April than a year ago, while physician office prices were 1.6 percent higher. Nursing care facility prices increased 2.6 percent from April 2010 to April 2011, and prices for home healthcare services were 0.3 percent higher than a year ago.
The PPI for medical and diagnostic laboratories fell 0.2 percent from April 2010 to April 2011, while residential mental retardation facilities saw prices rise 4.9 percent through the year. Blood and organ banks experienced a moderate PPI increase of 0.4 percent.
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.