U.S. healthcare prices increased ever so slightly in August 2011, rising 0.1 percent, 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 August PPI report indicated that prices across the range of healthcare industries were 1.9 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 while economy sank in July.]
In the July-through-August period, prices received by physician offices rose 0.1 percent, as did hospital prices. The PPI for dentist offices experienced a larger bump, increasing by 0.4 percent.
The PPIs of some other key healthcare sectors were also relatively stable. Prices received by home healthcare services dropped incrementally from July through August, falling 0.1 percent. Prices in the medical and diagnostic laboratory sector increased 0.2 percent, as did prices received by residential mental retardation facilities.
In contrast, the PPI for blood and organ banks remained flat across the month, while the PPI at nursing care facilities fell 0.5 percent, the largest decrease in the healthcare industry.
Comparing August 2010 to August 2011, healthcare PPIs rose 1.9 percent.
For instance, overall hospital prices were 2.1 percent higher in August than a year ago, while physician office prices were 1.2 percent higher. Nursing care facility prices increased 3.2 percent from August 2010 to August 2011 and prices for home healthcare services remained steady across the 12-month period.
The PPI for medical and diagnostic laboratories increased 0.4 percent from August 2010 to August 2011, while residential mental retardation facilities saw prices rise 4.2 percent through the year. Blood and organ banks experienced a moderate PPI increase of 0.7 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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