Tip # 716 - CHILLING MEDICAL AND PHARMACY TRENDS

Sunday, May 10, 2026 We’re still working our way through two lengthy and sobering reports on health care spending. One of those reports is paired with a follow up virtual meeting Wednesday.

Until I gather my thoughts and or get permission to share links to this data, here are a few highlights:

• $5.6 trillion was spent on health care in 2025.

• Hospital services account for ‘only’ 30% of that total.

• One of every four employer health care dollars are spent on pharmacy.

• 55% of that pharmacy spend was attributed to just 2% of utilization (specialty meds)

• Cancer, Musculoskeletal and Circulatory conditions “dominate” this spend.

• Treatment trends for maternity care (11.7%) and mental health (10.9%) are outpacing the overall trend (8.5%).

More to follow.