U.S. healthcare prices increased in November 2011, rising 0.4 percent over October 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 November 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 rose in September.]
In the October-through-November period, prices received by physician offices actually fell 0.2 percent, while hospital prices increased 0.6 percent. The PPI for dentist offices also experienced a bump, increasing by 0.5 percent.
The PPIs of some other key healthcare sectors were mixed last month. Prices received by home healthcare services fell 0.5 percent from October through November. In contrast, prices in the medical and diagnostic laboratory sector increased 0.1 percent, as did prices received by residential mental retardation facilities.
The PPI for blood and organ banks rose 0.1 percent across the month, while the PPI at nursing care facilities dropped 0.2 percent.
Comparing November 2010 to November 2011, overall healthcare PPIs rose 2.0 percent.
For instance, overall hospital prices were 2.5 percent higher in November than a year ago, while physician office prices were 1.2 percent higher. Nursing care facility prices increased 0.9 percent from November 2010 to November 2011 but prices for home healthcare services were flat across the 12-month period.
The PPI for medical and diagnostic laboratories increased 0.5 percent from November 2010 to November 2011, while residential mental retardation facilities saw prices rise 2.3 percent through the year. Blood and organ banks experienced a PPI increase of 1.2 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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