About 33% of every dollar spent on U.S. health care goes toward inpatient hospital care, according to a report by HHS's Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the Washington Times reports (Howard Price, Washington Times, 9/23).
The report is based on a U.S. database of inpatient hospital charges maintained by the federal government (Reuters, 9/22). In 2004, more than 60% of hospital bills were sent to federal and state governments for Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements, the study finds. The study also finds that in 2004: