Federal Healthcare Spending to Double Over Next Decade

February 1, 2012

Specifically on mandatory programs

The CBO has released a report that federal healthcare spending is expected to double over the next decade on mandatory programs such as Medicaid and Medicare due in part to impacts of the 2010 federal healthcare law. Medicaid projected growth in enrollment is expected to grow from 67 million to 95 million people which translates in federal spending increase from $275 billion to $605 billion over the next 10 years. The CBO warns that if healthcare costs are not contained and taxes stay at roughly the same level, the debt will be unsupportable. Of other significance is that Medicare spending is expected to rise 90 percent between now and 2022.

The United States is not the only country facing significant healthcare spending. Other industrialized countries are also facing the same dilemma. More on this can be found in the February 1, 2012 NAHU Newswire.

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