Hospital charges - what patients are billed for their rooms, nursing care, diagnostic tests, and other services - jumped from $873 billion in 2005 to $943 billion in 2006, according to the latest News and Numbers from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ).
The steep increase occurred even though hospital admissions increased only slightly, from 39.2 million to 39.5 million. Insured patients and their health plans pay less than the full charge, but uninsured patients are expected to pay the full amount.

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