State Rep. Douglas Wozniak today sponsored a resolution declaring September 2019 as Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) Awareness Month in the state of Michigan.

The PACE model states it is better for frail, elderly individuals to be served while continuing to live independently in the community whenever safely possible. Michigan’s first PACE program opened in 1995. Today, over 3,100 participants are served by 13 PACE programs in 20 sites across the state.

The program is a fully integrated model providing comprehensive highly coordinated services that allow older adults who meet state eligibility criteria for nursing home level of care to continue living in the community.

PACE programs assume full financial risk for all medical care and related services, including transportation, hospitalization and long-term care, in return for capitated payments from Medicare and Medicaid. This controls costs for the state while providing improved health outcomes and greater satisfaction for participants.

The PACE Association of Michigan was formed in 2015 to support, safeguard and expand Michigan PACE programs and initiatives through education and advocacy to enhance the lives of PACE participants and their caregivers.