So much for easing back into the flow of things after a couple of weeks at home painting rainbows, playing Candy Land and "drinking" way too much tea.

This week's return to reality began with the latest affirmation that health care spending in this country is slowing down. It's not earth-shattering news, but for the fourth straight year – and for the entirety of the president's first term in office – overall economic growth outpaced the health care sector.

The eggheads over at Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services run these numbers annually, and apparently, they're sitting at 10-year lows, with health care spending advancing 3.7 percent in 2012.

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