Noteboom The Law Firm

Cardiac patients: the cost of your hospital care is on the rise...

According to the latest federal government numbers, the cost for treating heart patients increased about 40 percent over the last decade. The increase, from $40 billion in 1997 to $57.9 billion in 2006, occurred mainly between 1997 and 2003, according to the report by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Since then,the annual increase in hospital costs for treating cardiovascualr conditions has slowed to almost 1 percent due to a decline in the number of heart disease cases and slower increases in cost per case

Treatment for cardiovascular conditions such as heart attack and clogged arteries accounted for almost 18 percent of the $329 billion hospitals spent on patient care in 2006.

The report also revealed the following findings:  

Hospital treatment costs for coronary artery disease (hardening of the arteries) increased from $14.5 billion in 1997 to $17.5 billion in 2006 - a 2.1 percent annual increase.

Costs for heart attack treatment increased from $9 billion to $11.8 billion - a 3 percent increase.

Congestive heart failure treatment costs increased from $6.6 billion to $11.2 billion - a 6.1 percent annual increase.

Costs for treatment of irregular heart beats increased from $3.5 billion to $6.8 billion - a 7.7 percent yearly increase.

Stroke treatment costs increased from $5.3 billion to $6.7 billion - a 2.6 percent annual increase.

Costs for treatment of chest pain with no determined cause increased from $1.6 billion to $3.9 billion - a 10 percent annual increase.