Health Spending Increased 6.9 Percent in 2000

January 21, 2002 Health Spending Increased 6.9 Percent in 2000 National health care spending increased 6.9 percent in 2000--to $1.3 trillion, and health care accounted for 13.2 percent of the nation's total output -- up from 13.1 percent in 1999 and 12 percent in 1990. These are new figures released by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). Also: Hospital and drug costs were the main factor in the latest rise -- as well as more spending on Medicare and resistance to the restraints of managed care. Each American consumed an average of $4 . . .