Objective
The U.S. Healthcare Expenditures Dashboard provides a detailed breakdown of healthcare spending in the United States, focusing on trends from 2012 to 2017. Built using Tableau, this dashboard enables policymakers, healthcare professionals, and analysts to gain insights into expenditure patterns across different service types and payor categories.
Key Insights & Features
- Total Healthcare Spending
- In 2017, the U.S. spent $3 trillion on healthcare.
- Healthcare expenditures saw a 25% increase from 2012 to 2017.
- Medicaid expenditures grew by 34% over this period.
- Breakdown of Expenditures by Service Type
- Hospital care accounted for the highest spending at $1.14 trillion (38.6% of total expenditure).
- Physician and clinical services followed, making up 23.4% of total spending ($694.3 billion).
- Prescription drugs represented 11.3% ($333.5 billion) of total expenditures, with a 28.6% increase from 2012 to 2017.
- The highest growth rate (31.6%) was observed in “Other Health Care” services, indicating a shift in spending trends.
- Payor Type Analysis
- Private health insurance was the largest contributor to healthcare expenses, covering 35.1% of the total costs.
- Medicaid expenditure grew significantly, making up 17.6% of total spending.
- Out-of-pocket expenses covered 12.3% of healthcare costs, reflecting individual financial burdens.
- Comparative Yearly Analysis
- Users can compare 2017 expenditure data against previous years (2011–2016) using the interactive Tableau filters.
- Year-over-year percentage changes in spending highlight trends in service demand and policy impacts.
Technology Used
- Tableau: Data visualization and dashboard creation.
- CMS.gov Data Source: Reliable government healthcare expenditure data.
- Interactive Filters: Allows year-wise comparison and payor type breakdown.
Impact & Use Cases
- Policy Decision-Making: Helps policymakers assess healthcare spending trends and adjust budgets accordingly.
- Healthcare Planning: Assists hospitals and clinics in resource allocation.
- Financial Insights: Provides a clear picture of insurance contributions and out-of-pocket expenses, informing future insurance models.
Next Steps & Enhancements
- Predictive Analysis: Implement forecasting models to anticipate future healthcare expenditures.
- Cost Efficiency Analysis: Identify areas where spending can be optimized.
- Demographic Insights: Introduce patient demographics to correlate spending patterns with population health trends.
