In Sunday’s New York Times, Binayamin Appelbaum presented a news analysis of the effect that savings on health care has had on the overall economy. It was an astute breakdown showing that the decline in spending on health care – because of innovation, efficiencies, larger patient cost shares, and, perhaps the Affordable Care Act — has meant that sector of the economy is not bouncing back as quickly from the recession as other areas. While that may be rough for those who work in the industry, it would seem that is a positive long-term trend for the economy and its participants. With fewer of their dollars going to health care, there are more left for other bills — which is primarily where that money seems to be going now, rather than into big purchases. That fiscal discipline today will eventually free consumers to spend.

It will be interesting to see how the information is politicized, though. It is not difficult to imagine those opposed to certain comprehensive health care legislation using these numbers to decry its effect on the economy. Listen carefully, though, to those criticisms. With health care spending accounting for more than 17 percent of the gross domestic product in 2012, there is room for some shrinkage — maybe a lot.

Read Appelbaum’s full piece here: http://nyti.ms/1g8dMsa.