PACE programs: eligibility and how they work
PACE — Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly — is a Medicare/Medicaid programme that provides comprehensive care to people who need nursing-home-level help but live in the community.
What it actually is
A PACE organisation takes full responsibility for a participant’s care — doctors, therapies, personal care, transportation, medication and, when needed, facility stays. It is not a supplement or an add-on: it becomes the vehicle through which care is provided.
Who qualifies
- Age 55 or older
- Certified by the state as needing nursing-home-level care
- Live in the service area of a PACE organisation
- For Medicaid-covered services: meet the state’s financial rules
The limitation people hit first
PACE is only available where a PACE organisation operates. If there is none in your area, the programme does not exist for you regardless of eligibility — there is no national PACE access.
How to check
Find out whether any PACE organisation serves the person’s address, then ask that organisation directly about eligibility and enrolment. Your state Medicaid agency or Area Agency on Aging can point you to it.
Sources
Related
- What care costs by state
- Cost calculator
- How many hours do you need
- How HCBS waivers work
- Does Medicare pay for home care