Hospitals have been increasing their rates at much higher rates than Medicare has been paying for years, according to the latest Medicare payment data released this month. Some of the largest hospital cost increases were in the form of back and neck procedures, which saw a 22 percent increase in the average price hospitals charged from 2011 to 2013, compared to the average Medicare payment increase of 6.8 percent.

Hospitals have been increasing their rates at much higher rates than Medicare has been paying for years, according to the latest Medicare payment data released this month. Some of the largest hospital cost increases were in the form of back and neck procedures, which saw a 22 percent increase in the average price hospitals charged from 2011 to 2013, compared to the average Medicare payment increase of 6.8 percent.