Prescription Drugs Remain Small Part of Total Health Spending

The common perception that prescription drug prices are constantly rising may be flawed, as data shows prescription drug prices relative to total health spending has remained steady for the last two decades.

In data collected by the Health System Tracker, prescription drug prices relative to total health spending has stayed below 10 percent since 2008. The percentage rose around 2003 but dipped back below 10 percent shortly after, where it has remained and is projected to remain for the foreseeable future.

This data may be both a reflection of unchanging prescription drug prices and the fact that total health spending per capita is rising alongside prescription drug prices. In a different survey by Gallup, it was found that a vast majority of people believe drug prices have been rising over the last couple of years.