The Standard & Poor’s Healthcare Economic Composite Index data released Thursday show that the average per capita cost of healthcare services covered by private insurance and Medicare programs has increased by 7.32% over the 12 months ending in August 2010.
Claim costs for commercial health plans, as measured by the S&P Healthcare Economic Commercial Index, increased at a higher rate, hitting 8.66% for hospital and physician claims for covered patients. The S&P Healthcare Economic Medicare Index revealed that Medicare claim costs for the same categories rose a less drastic 5.08%.
The Composite, Commercial, and Medicare indices track, by month, the per capita change in Medicare and commercial health insurance revenue for hospital and professional services facilities for the services they provide to patients. Annual growth rates are calculated by the percentage change of 12-month moving averages compared with the same month of the preceding year.