Overall hospital prices increased 0.1 percent in June, and were 2.8 percent higher than a year ago, according to data from the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Prices at general medical and surgical hospitals increased 0.2 percent, and were 2.9 percent higher than in June 2008, according to the BLS' Producer Price Indices, which measure average changes in selling prices received by domestic producers for their output.
For hospitals, this translates into actual or expected reimbursement for a sample of treatments or services.
The Producer Price Index for hospitals 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.