Neighborhood variations in the use of city-supported primary health care services by an elderly population.

The purpose of this paper is to examine the elderly's use of city-supported primary health care services. The provision of free or low cost health care to the elderly population is a major health policy issue, especially as the size of the elderly population increases and there is a concomitant increase in the need for health services and increases in the out-of-pocket cost of health care. The data analyzed here are based on client records for approximately 6,000 persons 65 and older who utilized the City of Philadelphia's Family Medical Care Program in 1982. Demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, diagnoses and types of services used are examined for all clients citywide and by neighborhood. Elderly clients of the city primary care system tended to be 65-74, female and black. Most clients had low incomes, with about 75-87% having incomes below $6,000. The problems for which care is sought involve long-term, ongoing care. The data show that the elderly are underrepresented in the city-supported primary care system relative to their numbers in the general population. Our findings on diagnosis and services utilization characteristics of those elderly who do use city-supported primary health care services indicate that the elderly are likely to place demands on the existing system for a substantial amount of resources. The demands for such services are likely to increase especially as the size of the elderly population increases.