- Growth in Health Care Prices Slows to Near-Historic Low Modern Healthcare by Maria Castellucci — Health care prices rose just 1.1% year-over-year through September, representing the lowest price growth rate in roughly two years, according to a new report from Altarum. That growth rate was just slightly higher than the all-time low growth rate of 0.9 percent in December 2015. The small increase in health care prices was likely due in large part to a decline in prescription drug prices, according to the report. Price growth for prescription drugs dropped to 1.4% in September from 2.7% in August…. Health care spending is expected to grow by 4.5% for 2017.