Federal Health Care Spending: Why Is It Growing? What Could Be Done About It?

In this February 27, 2014, presentation Congressional Budget Office (CBO), Director Doug Elmendorf discussed federal projections for health care spending growth through 2038. The presentation outlines how the CBO develops its projections and identifies growth drivers. Much of the presentation discusses options that have been presented for slowing federal health care spending. Currently, federal health care spending consumes 4.8% of gross domestic product (GDP); by 2038 federal health spending is projected to consume 8.0% of GDP . . .