AHRQ National Health Care Quality and Disparities Update

AHRQ National Health Care Quality and Disparities Update

AHRQ Chartbook: Health Care Became More Affordable from 2011 to Mid-2015

The cost of health care became more affordable from 2011 to the first half of 2015 as fewer people overall reported having trouble paying their medical bills, according to AHRQ’s newly releasedChartbook on Care Affordability.

The percentage of people who reported trouble paying their medical bills decreased from 21 percent to 17 percent. This applied to people under age 65 of all income levels and race/ethnicity. However, blacks and Hispanics were more likely to have problems paying medical bills in all years as compared with whites. Find more chartbook details here.

Access the National Quality Strategy "Priorities In Focus" brief that outlines current payment and delivery system reforms to make care more affordable.