The Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) has operated for decades and has proven itself to be a program that provides quality care that is also cost effective, but a recent shift to allow for-profit operators threatens the program’s effectiveness. PACE keeps those who would otherwise need a nursing home level of care in the community by providing comprehensive, cost effective care. This section contains research articles that critiques the for-profit shift in the program and follows its development.
Issue Briefs:
- PACE: How Corporate Interest Undermines Policy and Program Evaluations (2020)
- The Future of the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly
Reports:
- Will For-Profits Keep Up the Pace in the United States? The Future of the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly and Implications for Other Programs Serving Medically Vulnerable Populations
- (PACE): Providing Integrated Community Care for the Frail Elderly
- A Focus on the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly
- Abstract: For over four decades, the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly has been operated by nonprofit organizations. Research has demonstrated that nonprofit PACE provides quality, cost-effective community-based care to older adults who would otherwise require a nursing home level of care. Recently, the U.S. Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services has authorized for-profit entities to operate the program, contingent on their ability to demonstrate that they can provide care that is similar to nonprofit PACE with regard to access to care, quality of care, and cost-effectiveness. In 2013, a study was conducted to evaluate how the program operates under for-profit versus nonprofit status. The results were presented to Congress which, in turn, authorized for-profit PACE providers. This article critiques the 2013 study, offers a comparison to for profit hospice, and argues that at best there is not enough evidence to conclude that for-profit programs of all-inclusive care provide the same quality of care as existing nonprofit operators.
News and Recent Developments:
- Green House Project Blog regarding PACE
- Startup WelbeHealth Raises $15M to Coordinate Care for Frail Elderly
- Read more analysis by Dr. Lori Gonzalez here.