Spending Growth in a Large Massachusetts Insurer Caused by More and More Intense Care

Spending growth from 2018 to mid-2025 was primarily driven by utilization and prescription drug spending, particularly for GLP-1 medications.

• Utilization and prescription drug costs were the main contributors to recent spending growth.
• Inflation-adjusted prices for medical services saw little increase during this period.
• Changes in the types of services provided had a minimal impact on overall spending growth.
• The intensity of coding for services has been on the rise.

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