ABSTRACT
The healthcare system is always at the center of attention for its expenditure. Nurse practitioners and physician assistants cannot be said to have influenced the proportion of healthcare spending that goes to clinicians, as the expenditure for a nurse practitioner is similar to that of a physician for insurance purposes. In 2013, Medicare spending grew 3.4% to about 585.7 billion, or 20% of total net health expenses, while Medicaid grew 6.1% to 449.4 billion. or 15% of total net health expenses. Private health insurance spending grew 2.8% to 961.7 billion, or 33% of total expenses. Hospital spending grew 5.6% to 1,036.1 billion in 2015, greater than the 4.6% it grew in 2014. In 2015, the National Health Expenditure, grew 5.8% to 3.2 trillion, about $9,990,000 per person, and accounted for 17.8% of the gross domestic product.
