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This toolkit will help you understand trends in U.S. health spending, and some of the reasons why spending is going up. We also cover some ideas for restraining health care costs. In addition, this resource offers story ideas, selected experts with contact information, selected websites, and a glossary.

• Key Facts
• Background
• Health Spending Basics
• Spending Trends
• Causes of Health Spending Increases
• Effects of Spending Growth
• Some Ways to Curb Spending
• Story Ideas
• Selected Experts
• Selected Websites
• Glossary on Health Care Costs

This toolkit was compiled and written by Laura Covington. Updated by Sam Takvorian and Sanjay Mohanty.