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National health spending in May 2016 was 5.0% higher than in May 2015. Spending on prescription drugs dropped to 5.2% growth, continuing its decline from the 12.2% spike in 2014.
National health spending in April 2016 was 4.6% higher than in April 2015. This marked the sixth consecutive month of spending growth below 5%, and is well under the estimated average of 5.8% for all of 2015.
The triangle of painful choices was first introduced in August 2012 as a tool to provide insights about what rate of growth in health spending would be sustainable in the long term.
National health spending in March 2016 was 4.7% higher than health spending in March 2015, the fifth consecutive month of spending growth below 5%, and lower than the average 5.8% rate for all of 2015.
National health spending in February 2016 was 4.8% higher than health spending in February 2015.
National health spending in January 2016 was 4.9% higher than health spending in January 2015, slightly above the December 2015 growth rate of 4.8% but well below the 6.8% peak in February 2015.
Preliminary estimates show health spending grew only 4.9% in December 2015 compared to December 2014, continuing a steady decline from a peak of 6.8% in February 2015.
Health spending in October 2015 was up 5.5% compared to October 2014, continuing the slowdown from the peak of 6.8% growth in February 2015.