business
Prices paid for physician services grows slightly faster than inflation
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Oct. 29, 2012
For the fourth month running, the annual increase in the prices paid by insurers and patients for physician services outpaced inflation in the economy as a whole, according to a monthly report issued Oct. 16 by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. However, that followed a 14-month streak where physician services inflation was below the overall rate.
Physician service prices went up 2.9% for the one-year period ending in September, with general inflation at 2%. The annual increase in physician services was 2.5% in August, and the overall economy saw inflation of 1.7%.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2012/10/29/bibf1029.htm.