The economics of health care for elderly blacks.

Inflation and spiraling medical costs are adversely affecting the income and health status of elderly Americans. Monies spent for technological advances in medicine resulting in the introduction of more sophisticated instruments and medications have resulted in higher costs for health care. Over the past decade, medical care prices have increased at a rate faster than the cost of living. The percent of the Gross National Product spent for health care has steadily increased. This paper examines the costs involved with health care delivery to the elderly black population, trends in hospitalization and individualized care, and the quality of health care given to elderly black individuals in comparison with that received by the general population.