HHS: Slower per beneficiary spending saved Medicare $316 billion over five years

Medicare spending per beneficiary grew just 0.2% in 2013, according to a new report from the Department of Health and Human Services. That’s down from an average 1.8% growth between 2009 and 2012 and an average 5.9% growth between 2000 and 2008. “This has resulted in a new estimate of Medicare spending $316 billion less over the 2009-2013 period than would have occurred if the 2000-2008 growth rates had continued through 2013,” the report states. “…Putting this into context, Medicare spent $551 billion on benefit outlays in 2013. In other words, the accumulated difference in spending between 2009 and 2013 is equal to 57% of Medicare’s benefit outlays in one year alone: 2013.”