Rate of Growth in Healthcare Spending at its Lowest

This article in Modern Healthcare discusses how healthcare spending in the US is experiencing the slowest rate of growth in nearly 50 years. Spending growth has only grown 4.4% in 2008 to $2.3 trillion, which is almost a historic low.

It is clear that the economic recession has affected healthcare spending as well as making it difficult for people to afford private insurance. Private insurance benefits also grew at it slowest rate since 1967. What are your thoughts on this decrease in numbers?