Quick Facts about Programs of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE)
What are Programs of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE)?
PACE is a Medicare program for older adults and people over age 55 living with disabilities. This program provides community-based care and services to people who otherwise need nursing home level of care. PACE was created as a way to provide you, your family, caregivers, and professional health care providers flexibility to meet your health care needs and to help you continue living in the community.
An interdisciplinary team of professionals will give you the coordinated care you need. These professionals are also experts in working with older people. They will work together with you and your family (if appropriate) to develop your most effective plan of care.
PACE provides all the care and services covered by Medicare and Medicaid, as authorized by the interdisciplinary team, as well as additional medically-necessary care and services not covered by Medicare and Medicaid. PACE provides coverage for prescription drugs, doctor care, transportation, home care, check ups, hospital visits, and even nursing home stays whenever necessary.
With PACE, your ability to pay will never keep you from getting the care you need.
Who can join a PACE Plan?
You can join PACE if you meet the following conditions:
• You are 55 years old or older.
• You live in the service area of a PACE organization.
• You are certified by the state in which you live as meeting the need for the nursing home level of care.
• You are able to live safely in the community when you join with the help of PACE services.
Note: You can leave a PACE program at any time.
PACE services include but aren’t limited to the following:
★ • Primary Care (including doctor and nursing services)
• Hospital Care • Medical Specialty Services
• Prescription Drugs • Nursing Home Care
• Emergency Services • Home Care
• Physical therapy • Occupational therapy
• Adult Day Care • Recreational therapy
• Meals • Dentistry
• Nutritional Counseling • Social Services
• Laboratory / X-ray Services • Social Work Counseling
• Transportation
PACE also includes all other services determined necessary by your team of health care professionals to improve and maintain your overall health.
You should know this about PACE:
*PACE Provides Comprehensive Care PACE uses Medicare and Medicaid funds to cover all of your medically-necessary care and services. You can have either Medicare or Medicaid or both to join PACE.
*The Focus is on You
You have a team of health care professionals to help you make health care decisions. Your team is experienced in caring for people like you. They usually care for a small number of people. That way, they get to know you, what kind of living situation you are in, and what your preferences are. You and your family participate as the team develops and updates your plan of care and your goals in the program.
*PACE Covers Prescription Drugs
PACE organizations offer Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage. If you join a PACE program, you’ll get your Part D-covered drugs and all other necessary medication from the PACE program. Note: If you are in a PACE program, you don’t need to join a separate Medicare drug plan. If you do, you will lose your PACE health and prescription drug benefits.
* PACE Supports Family Caregivers
PACE organizations support your family members and other caregivers with caregiving training, support groups, and respite care to help families keep their loved ones in the community.
*PACE Provides Services in the Community
PACE organizations provide care and services in the home, the community, and the PACE center. They have contracts with many specialists and other providers in the community to make sure that you get the care you need. Many PACE participants get most of their care from staff employed by the PACE organization in the PACE center. PACE centers meet state and Federal safety requirements and include adult day programs, medical clinics, activities, and occupational and physical therapy facilities.
*PACE is Sponsored by the Health Care Professionals Who Treat You
PACE programs are provider sponsored health plans. This means your PACE doctor and other care providers are also the people who work with you to make decisions about your care. No higher authorities will overrule what you, your doctor, and other care providers agree is best for you. If you disagree with the interdisciplinary team about your care plan, you have the right to file an appeal.
*Preventive Care is Covered and Encouraged
The focus of every PACE organization is to help you live in the community for as long as possible. To meet this goal, PACE organizations focus on preventive care. Although all people enrolled in PACE are eligible for nursing home care, only 7% live in nursing homes.
PACE Provides Medical Transportation
*PACE organizations provide all medically-necessary transportation to the PACE center for activities or medical appointments. You can also get transportation to appointments in the community
* What You Pay for PACE Depends on Your Financial Situation
If you qualify for Medicare, all Medicare-covered services are paid for by Medicare. If you also qualify for your State’s Medicaid program, you will either have a small monthly payment or pay nothing for the long-term care portion of the PACE benefit.
If you don’t qualify for Medicaid you will be charged a monthly premium to cover the long-term care portion the PACE benefit and a premium for Medicare Part D drugs. However, in PACE there is never a deductible or copayment for any drug, service, or care approved by the PACE team.
For more information about PACE do the following:
• Visit www.npaonline.org on the web. This website is sponsored by the National PACE Association.
• Visit www.medicare.gov/Nursing/Alternatives/PACE.asp on the web.
• Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). TTY users should call 1-877-486-2048.
