Health care costs for the average American family rose to $22,000 in 2013, a 6.3 percent increase over 2012, according to the recently released Milliman Medical Index. Of that amount, the employer pays $12,886, or approximately 58 percent, while the employee pays $9,144 - $5,544 for his/her share of the premium and $3,600 in deductibles, copays and other out-of-pocket costs. By comparison, Milliman says the average family of four spends $8,388 on groceries and $2,912 on gasoline. Click here to review the report.

Milwaukee-area hospitals experienced a 1.4 percent increase in year-to-year admissions and a 1.8 percent year-to-year increase in inpatient days in April, reversing two months of decline. Four hospital systems posted year-to-year increases: Froedtert Health (7.7 percent), Columbia St. Mary’s (3.2 percent), Aurora Health Care (1.7 percent) and Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare (1.4 percent).  Three systems posted losses: United Hospital System (-8.6 percent), ProHealth Care (-5.4 percent) and Children’s (-1.7%).

At the individual hospital level, 18 hospitals posted year-to-year gains, including seven with double-digit gains: St. Josephs – West Bend (21 percent), Aurora Summit (20.8 percent), Wheaton Elmbrook (20.6 percent), Wheaton Franklin (23.5 percent), Columbia St. Mary’s Ozaukee (19.9 percent), Oconomowoc Memorial (13.7 percent), and Community Memorial (10.9 percent). Twelve hospitals posted losses, including three with double-digit reductions: the Wisconsin Heart Hospital (-25.8 percent), Aurora Hartford (-18.9 percent) and Aurora Lakeland (-12.2 percent).