Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

FL Spending on Drugs, Doctors High

Florida rates in the top 10 on spending per-person for prescription drugs and doctor visits, according to a Wall Street Journal analysis of federal health data by state.

On drugs, Florida ranked fourth among the states at an average $1,213 per person. On clinicians' visits, Florida spending was No. 6, at an average of $1,950.  This state was also high on durable medical equipment.

But Florida was slightly below average on per-person hospital, home-health and nursing-home spending, the chart shows.

Overall, health spending in Florida was $7,156 compared to the national average of $6,815. The analysis was based on 2009 data, the most recent available.

Originally founded in December 2006 as an independent grassroots publication dedicated to coverage of health issues in Florida, Health News Florida was acquired by WUSF Public Media in September 2012.