The Facts About PACE in Massachusetts

All PACE enrollees meet the state’s definition of nursing home eligible
PACE enrollees are frail, with significant functional and chronic conditions
PACE enrollees are largely dually eligible, which means that they have coverage under the Medicare and Medicaid programs
PACE enrollees have many behavioral health conditions and many social determinant of health (SDOH) needs, including food, housing, social supports, and companionship to reduce loneliness and isolation

PACE enrollees have choice on many levels
PACE enrollees have choice over what they receive and how they receive services and supports from the PACE program
PACE provides care and services to enrollees in the community
PACE supports enrollees in what they would like to do every single day: older adults have the option to remain at home, go out into the community, or come to the PACE Center for a few days a week or not at all

Integration occurs on many levels: at the system level, at the program level, and on the individual level
Integration occurs between Medicare and Medicaid Services
Integration occurs through the Interdisciplinary Team
Integration “in action” takes place through the enrollee care plan

Every PACE enrollee has a holistic and comprehensive care plan
The enrollee’s care plan incorporates and addresses all needs ranging from medical to behavioral health to long-term services and supports to important social determinant of health (SDOH) needs such as food, transportation, and housing
PACE keeps people out of nursing homes, hospitals and away from the emergency department by emphasizing wellness and prevention and providing an array of services to address the care needs of this frail population
Only 13 percent of PACE enrollees reside in a nursing home out of the 100 percent that are eligible for a nursing home

PACE makes sure that every enrollee has an end of life plan
An end of life plan is critically important to PACE enrollees and ensures that an individual’s preferences are known before a health crisis

PACE operates like an emergency response team in the community, responding to the needs of every enrollee during a state of emergency

PACE is fully capitated, assuming 100 percent risk for any costs exceeding the monthly fee paid by Medicare and Medicaid
The PACE program costs less to the government than the fee-for-service equivalent (FFSE), as determined by the federal and state government

Candace Kuebel, Executive Director, MassPACE Association
978-580-1679
ckuebel@masspace.net
40 Court Street, 10th Floor,
Boston, MA 02108

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