On February 24, 2009, CMS announced that growth in U.S. national health expenditures is expected to significantly outpace economic growth in 2008 and 2009 due to the recession. Specifically, growth in national health expenditures in 2008 is expected to be 6.1%, totaling $2.4 trillion in 2008, while growth in the gross domestic product (GDP) is anticipated to be 3.5%. For 2009, health spending is projected to increase 5.5%. The health share of GDP is expected to increase from 16.2% in 2007 to 16.6% in 2008 and to 17.6% in 2009. The public share of total health care spending is expected to rise from 46.2% in 2007 to over 50% by 2016. Within Medicare, prescription drugs are projected to be the fastest growing component of the program’s spending from 2007 to 2018. Medicaid spending growth is expected to slow from 9.6% in 2009 to 7.8% in 2012 due to projected improving economic conditions.