By $33, to $898 last year, according to the report from the IMS Institute for Healthcare Informatics.. "That's the first time IMS has ever measured a decline in the 58 years we've been monitoring drugs," said Michael Kleinrock, director of research development at the institute.. Kleinrock said that while total drug spending fell by just 1 percent, the decline was 3.5 percent after accounting for population growth and economic expansion.. Factors behind last year's drop in drug spending include positive trends such as more use of cheap generic pills and flukes such as a fairly mild cold and flu season in early 2012. But there also was a big negative: people rationing their own health care.. IMS found affordability of health care remains a big problem for many, with growing out-of-pocket costs forcing people to go without needed doctor visits, medicines and other treatments
