Study Highlights Rise In US Healthcare Costs Since 1980

A new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) highlights important healthcare trends in the United States over the last three decades. The study, entitled “The anatomy of health care in the United States,” used publicly available data related to funding, patients, healthcare providers, and health outcomes.

The healthcare industry accounts for about 17.9 percent of the US gross domestic product (GDP), and 15.7 percent of the US workforce. The industry’s yearly growth, however, has declined since 1970, although it still outranks any other sector.

Government funding of healthcare has increased by 11.2 percent between 1980 and 2011, with the current figure standing at 42.3 percent. While the US may have increased funding, it still lags behind peer nations in multiple areas, including life expectancy.