Hospital Costs for Life-Saving Care Rising in Northern Calif.

Hospital costs associated with complicated life-saving procedures are increasing faster than costs for routine care in Northern California. According to a Sacramento Bee review of data from the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development, the number of hospital stays in the region that cost $1 million or more increased by 700% over the past 10 years, from 430 in 2000 to nearly 3,000 in 2010. Health experts and hospital officials said they expect continued growth in high-cost hospital treatments, due in part to the care needs of the state's aging population.

• "Million-Dollar Hospital Bills Rise Sharply in Northern California," (Reese/Smith, Sacramento Bee, 3/11).