The PACE model, developed in 1983, is a total system of care directly providing a comprehensive package of acute and long-term care services on a fully integrated basis. It is designed specifically to address the complex medical and social service needs of frail older adults allowing them to continue to live successfully in the community. Before I explain the PACE model further, I want to express my appreciation for the strong bipartisan support in Congress for PACE over the last 15 years which has culminated in establishing provider status for the model as part of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997. This legislation allows for the continued expansion of PACE services to many more qualified frail, elderly individuals throughout the United States. The primary objective of PACE is to maximize the function and independence of enrollees in order to delay or prevent nursing home placement.
PACE provides a comprehensive range of primary, acute and long - term care services.
We provides the majority of services, including medical care, adult day care, home care, rehabilitative therapies, personal care, transportation, prescription drugs and meals to enrollees both in the community and in nursing homes without any limits on dollars or durations of service. The integration of services is achieved through daily, face to face interaction between program enrollees and the professionals and paraprofessionals who provide their care. PACE programs receive capitated payments from Medicare, Medicaid and in some states, private pay sources. These payments are pooled at the program level, allowing health care providers enormous flexibility in developing treatment plans that respond to enrollees' needs rather than reimbursement regulations. PACE programs assume total financial risk and responsibility for all medical and long-term care without limitation.