Health care spending in 2008 grew at slowest rate on record

Health spending in the United States grew 4.4 percent in 2008, the slowest rate of growth since it was first tracked in 1960, according to a report released in January by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Health spending in 2008 was $2.3 trillion, or $7,681 per person. Despite slower growth, healthcare spending continued to outpace the gross domestic product, which grew by 2.6 percent in 2008. The findings were published in health policy journal Health Affairs.

The 4.4 percent growth in 2008 was down from 6.0 percent in 2007. Spending slowed for nearly all health care goods and services, particularly for hospitals.