Medical Care as Percent of Core PCE

4/30/09 Is this higher spending in US medical care as a percent of Core PCE sustainable? As our population ages (leading edge of "baby boomers" turn 62 years old this year) won't there be higher spending in medical care? Health Care prices are controlled by the American Medical Association (the medical doctor's lobby) via Medicare and Medicaid so prices are unlikely to come down. What effect will this have on other descretionary spending?