WASHINGTON— Health spending in the USA has picked up, after falling to historic lows in 2013 . Spending on healthcare increased by 5.4% in 2014 , compared to just 5.4% growth the previous, the lowest on record. Economists said the increase was not a surprise, but opponents of the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare , seized the opportunity to accuse the White House of not doing enough to rein in health costs. Commenting on the figures, Obamacare , assistant secretary for planning and evaluation at the Department of Health and Human Services said “Under the Affordable Care Act , millions more Americans have quality, affordable health coverage, and cost growth has remained low.” The increase was caused mainly by two factors: an increase in prescription drug costs, thanks in part to new treatments for hepatitis C, and the US 's ageing population, which is covered under the Medicare scheme.
Health spending in the USA has picked up, after falling to historic lows in 2013 . Spending on healthcare increased by 5.4% in 2014 , compared to just 5.4% growth the previous, the lowest on record. Economists said the increase was not a surprise, but opponents of the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare , seized the opportunity to accuse the White House of not doing enough to rein in health costs. Commenting on the figures, Obamacare , assistant secretary for planning and evaluation at the Department of Health and Human Services said “Under the Affordable Care Act , millions more Americans have quality, affordable health coverage, and cost growth has remained low.” The increase was caused mainly by two factors: an increase in prescription drug costs, thanks in part to new treatments for hepatitis C, and the US 's ageing population, which is covered under the Medicare scheme.