Q. My widowed 82-year-old mother lives in the home she has owned for more than 60 years. She is legally blind, and has severe arthritis and diabetes, but she insists on staying in her home for now. In my opinion, in order for her to remain in her current independent living situation, she really needs assistance driving to and from appointments; managing her diet; and giving herself her daily insulin shots. I would love to help, but my busy work and family life only allows me and my wife enough time to come by after work and on weekends to assist her.
I recently read about the PACE program, which seems like a good option for someone like my mother who wants to live independently for as long as they can, and I heard that new laws are expanding the program. Do you know more about it and what my mother needs to do to qualify? Thanks for your help!
A. Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE®) deliver the entire continuum of care and services to those with chronic care needs, while maintaining their independence in their home for as long as possible. First authorized in the Balanced Budget Act in 1997, PACE now serves 35,000 people through 116 programs in 32 states. Medical and long-term services available through PACE can include medical care and prescription drug services; physical and occupational therapy; day and respite care; and medical specialties such as dentistry, optometry, and podiatry.
Previously, PACE was limited to individuals who are age 55 or older, certified by their state to need nursing home care, able to live safely in the community at the time of enrollment, and live in a PACE service area. On November 5, President Obama signed the PACE Innovation Act (PIA) into law. The new law will allow older adults, who do not yet meet the standard for nursing home level of care, and others who may not meet the age requirements, to participate in PACE. It was also enable the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to develop pilot projects, based on the successful PACE Model of Care.
The next step is for CMS to develop a process to accept, evaluate, and measure proposed pilots based on the PACE model. Providers already have started to explore what changes in the model would be necessary to serve other populations that need consistent access to care and services.
How Does PACE Work?
PACE was created as a way to provide family, caregivers, and professional health care providers the flexibility to meet health care needs and to help those, such as your mother, who wish to continue living in their own homes.
Below are details on how PACE works:
- With PACE, an interdisciplinary team of professionals provides the coordinated care your mother needs. They will work together with your mother and her family, as appropriate, to develop the most effective plan of care.
- Once enrolled in PACE, the amount your mother will pay each month will not change no matter what care and services you might need. The program 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, checkups, hospital visits, and even nursing home stays whenever necessary.
- In PACE there is never a co-pay, deductible or coverage gap, so you can access the care, services, and medications you need.
- You may be held financially responsible for any care you receive outside the program that is not approved by the PACE interdisciplinary team.
- You can leave a PACE program at any time. Enrollment and disenrollment usually occurs at the beginning of each month.
How Do You Enroll in PACE?
With the new law, your mother can join PACE if she lives in the service area of a PACE organization, and is able to live safely in the community with the help of PACE services at the time she enrolls. For those in the Fairfax area, InovaCares for Seniors Fairfax is the sole PACE provider, and they can be reached at 703-239-5888, or by email at pace@inova.org. There are also additional locations in the Metro DC area. You can find an interactive map of locations here.
What if Your Mother Needs More Care Than PACE Can Provide?
When nursing home care is imminent, it is wise to begin planning if you haven’t done so already, since nursing homes in the DC Metro area are $10,000-$14,000 a month—an amount that can be devastating to most families.
Life Care Planning and Medicaid Asset Protection is the process of protecting your assets from having to be spent down in connection with entry into a nursing home, while also helping ensure that you or your loved one get the best possible care and maintain the highest possible quality of life, whether at home, in an assisted living facility, or in a nursing home. Call one of our offices to make an appointment for an initial consultation:
Fairfax Elder Law: 703-691-1888
Fredericksburg Elder Law: 540-479-1435
Rockville Elder Law: 301- 519-8041
DC Elder Law: 202-587-2797
Fredericksburg Elder Law: 540-479-1435
Rockville Elder Law: 301- 519-8041
DC Elder Law: 202-587-2797
About Evan H Farr, CELA, CAP
