Overall U.S. healthcare prices rose marginally from June to July 2013, 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 July PPI report indicated that prices across the range of healthcare industries were 0.3 percent higher than in June, and 1.2 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 inched up in June.]
In the June through July period, prices received by hospitals rose 0.3 percent, while the PPI for physician offices rose 0.4 percent.
The PPI for home healthcare services remained flat from June into July. Prices received by residential mental retardation facilities increased 0.8 percent.
Prices in the medical and diagnostic laboratory sector fell 0.2 percent last month, as did the PPI for dentist offices. The PPI for nursing care facilities rose 0.3 percent across the month.
The PPI at blood and organ banks rebounded from a slight fall last month, as prices increased by a marginal 0.1 percent from June through July.
Comparing July 2013 to July 2012, overall healthcare PPIs rose 1.2 percent.
Hospital prices were 1.7 percent higher in July than a year ago, while physician office prices were 0.4 percent higher. Nursing care facility prices increased 1.1 percent from July 2012 to July 2013 and the PPI for dentist offices rose 1.8 percent across the 12-month period.
The PPI for medical and diagnostic laboratories dropped 1.5 percent from July 2012 to July 2013, while prices for home healthcare services fell 0.2 percent during the same period. Residential mental retardation facilities continued to see their prices rise significantly in 2013, with a PPI increase of 5.2 percent from year to year. Blood and organ banks experienced a PPI increase of 0.3 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.