Big Pharma Alta Vista

According to the latest report from the Altarum Institute, "moderate 2016 health spending growth continues a slow downward trend." Unfortunately, this doesn't fit the narrative of those who want to talk about runaway trains -- especially for pharmaceuticals. 

Here are the numbers: Hospital spending represents 32 percent of American healthcare spending, 20 percent goes to physician and clinical services, 15 percent goes to "other health spending," and 10 percent is for prescription drugs. 

Here's the headline -- Pharmaceuticals represent 10 percent of American healthcare spending. A dime on the dollar: That’s a smaller percentage than almost every nation in Europe.