PricewaterhouseCoopers' Health Research Institute finds the expected 2019 cost trend for the employer-sponsored health coverage population is in line with the 5.5% to 7% increases seen over the past five years, but remains "unsustainably high," leading to consumers paying larger portions of their medical costs.

American Health Line rounds up the latest health care news in the states.

American Medical Association President Barbara McAneny says, "We have to decide whether the goal of a health care system is to increase profits, because private equity firms are selecting those parts of health care where they can see a profit because their goal is to make profit."

The House Budget Committee's 10-year GOP budget proposal calls for $537 billion in cuts to Medicare spending and a total of $1.5 trillion in cuts to spending on Medicaid and other health care programs.

The air ambulance industry is booming due to medical advances, hospital closures, and loose regulations, but the sometimes-lifesaving flights can carry five-figure charges that can often lead to protracted billing disputes for privately insured patients.

Care delivery is shifting away from high-intensity settings and toward low-intensity settings, but experts moving patients toward the lowest-intensity setting might put them at risk in some instances.

HHS Secretary Alex Azar in testimony appears to walk back President Trump's comments regarding looming prescription drug price cuts—and continues his criticism of proposals to import drugs from other countries.

The bill—which would eliminate nearly $15 billion in unused federal funding, including $7 billion in unused CHIP funds—now heads to the Senate, where it is unclear if it has enough support to pass.

CNBC reports that other candidates who have been approached to lead the new health care venture launched by Amazon, Berkshire Hathaway, and JPMorgan include former acting CMS Administrator Andy Slavitt, former U.S. Chief Technology Officer Todd Park, and former Aetna senior executive Gary Loveman.