The document discusses national healthcare expenditures in the United States. It reports that in 2014, national healthcare expenditures totaled over $3 trillion, accounting for 17.5% of GDP. Key drivers of rising healthcare costs include an aging population, new medical technologies and drugs, emphasis on specialty care, large numbers of uninsured/underinsured individuals, and volume-based reimbursement incentives. The Chief Financial Officer requests that the COO partner on a healthcare spending project that involves conducting a PESTLE analysis on macro environmental factors impacting costs.