Tracking health care costs: spending growth remains stable at high rate in 2005.

This Data Bulletin is based on data from the Milliman Health Cost Index 2005 Series ($0 deductible), which is designed to reflect claims trends faced by private insurers; the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' (BLS) Producer Price Index for general medical and surgical for general medical and surgical hospitals and for physicians' offices to track hospital and physician prices; the BLS's Consumer Price Index for prescription drugs and medical supplies to track prescription drug prices; and the Kaiser Family Foundation/Health Research and Educational Trust 2006 Survey of Employer Health Benefits. It is adapted from "Tracking Health Care Costs: Continued Stability But At High Rates In 2005," by Paul B. Ginsburg, Bradley C. Strunk and Michelle I. Banker of HSC; and John P. Cookson of Milliman, Health Affairs, Web-exclusive publication, Oct. 3, 2006, www.healthaffairs.org.