Growth in health care spending

Note that the chart shows the GROWTH in Medicare and health spending each year. The huge drop after part D was introduced does not mean spending didn't remain high, it just means that the INCREASES didn't continue to occur. As an aside, remember when Republicans introduced and passed the drug rider for Medicare, Part D, under President Bush, they never offered a way to pay for it - they just put it on the tab, adding to the deficit they are now crying over.