Overall U.S. healthcare prices increased slightly from June to July 2012, rising 0.2 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 all sectors of the healthcare industry were 1.8 percent higher than a year ago.
The PPI translates into actual or expected reimbursement for a sample of treatments or services.
In the June to July period, pricing activity was mixed, falling slightly in two sectors but increasing somewhat in others. Hospital prices rose 0.2 percent across the month, while dentist office prices fell 0.1 percent. The PPI for medical and diagnostic labs also trended down, falling 0.2 percent.
Prices for blood and organ donor banks remained steady.
Other sectors seeing a PPI increase were physician offices and nursing care facilities, where prices rose 0.2 percent each. Residential mental retardation facilities experienced a PPI increase of 0.1 percent.
Comparing July 2011 to July 2012, overall hospital prices were 2.1 percent higher in July than a year ago, while physician office prices rose 1.3 percent and dentist office prices were 1.6 percent higher. Nursing care facility prices increased 1.1 percent from July 2011 to July 2012, and prices for home healthcare services were 0.7 percent higher than a year ago.
The PPI for medical and diagnostic laboratories fell 0.2 percent from July 2011 to July 2012, while residential mental retardation facilities saw prices rise 1.9 percent through the year. Blood and organ banks experienced an increase of 0.6 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.