Prices increase, spending climbs

For those with insurance through an employer, the price of healthcare increased in 2010 even as the use of healthcare did not, a new report shows.

The Health Care Cost Institute, a not-for-profit that was launched last year, released its first report this week. It looks at healthcare prices, use, intensity of services and total spending for one out of five people with employer-sponsored insurance younger than age 65.

Price—not the frequency or intensity of medical care—proved to be behind the 3.3% growth in healthcare spending for the population, said authors of the new report.

Here's a look at price changes for major categories of healthcare services:

Source: Health Care Cost Institute

Several further studies using the data are expected, including research expected later this year on aging and healthcare costs.

You can follow Melanie Evans on Twitter: @MHmevans.