Despite Gov. Ron DeSantis’ veto of nearly $4 million that would have expanded the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) in Pinellas County, local leaders say seniors won’t see an interruption in care. Dr. Nicholas Joseph, senior vice president of the Complete Care Division at Empath Life, said the veto will not affect the organization’s ability to serve seniors; in fact, they have more capacity.
Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE)
PACE is a Medicare and Medicaid program designed for adults age 55 and older who qualify for nursing home-level care but can safely continue living in the community. Instead of relying on multiple providers, participants receive coordinated care through one interdisciplinary team that can include physicians, nurses, therapists, social workers, pharmacists and other specialists.
Services extend well beyond routine doctor’s appointments. Participants receive primary and specialty medical care, prescription medications, rehabilitation services, transportation to appointments, home health services, adult day health care and other supports tailored to their individual needs.
Joseph believes that team-based approach is what distinguishes PACE from traditional healthcare. “The beauty of PACE is it’s a level of concierge care,” he said. “What they receive is solely based on their needs and goals.”
Enrollment is still subject to approval through the state, a process that generally takes about 60 days to determine eligibility. But once approved, participants gain access to a coordinated system of care that often helps them avoid repeated hospital visits and delays or eliminates the need for assisted living or nursing home placement.
“You can stay at home instead of going to assisted living, and we give you everything medically necessary to age in your home without having to move,” Joseph said. “If you are just scraping by, that’s not a way to live for someone at that age.”
Joseph said he has spent his career working to expand PACE because of the difference it makes in patients’ lives. He also credited the state for increasing its support of the program over the past decade, despite this year’s veto of the Pinellas expansion funding.
Original reporting: St. Pete Catalyst — read the source article.
