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PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly: all medical and social care from one team, at home instead of a nursing home): who qualifies, what you get, how to apply, and what happens next

PACE gives people 55 and older who need nursing-home level care all their medical and social care from one team, with a day center, home care and transportation, so they can stay at home. With Medi-Cal there is no premium and no copays. Apply by calling a PACE organization that serves your ZIP code.

What PACE is, in one paragraph

PACE, the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly, is a Medicare and Medicaid program for people 55 and older who need nursing-home level care but can live at home (rule:definition, rule:age_55). One PACE organization provides all of the person's care through a team: doctors, a day center, home care, hospital care, drugs and transportation (rule:covers_all, rule:team, rule:transport). In California, PACE organizations serve over 28,000 people in 28 counties (rule:ca_reach). It is only available where a PACE organization operates (rule:service_area).

$0
the monthly PACE premium for a person with Medi-Cal, and no copays for care the PACE team approves (Medicare.gov, rule:no_premium_medicaid, rule:no_copays)

Who may qualify

TestRule
55 or olderrule:age_55
Lives in the service area of a PACE organizationrule:service_area
Needs nursing-home level of care, as certified by the staterule:nursing_home_level, rule:state_assessment
Can live safely in the community with PACE's helprule:live_safely

Medi-Cal is not required to join. With Medi-Cal there is no premium; in California a person with Medicare and Medi-Cal pays nothing or their Medi-Cal share of cost (rule:no_premium_medicaid, rule:ca_cost). Without Medi-Cal the person pays a premium the organization sets (rule:private_pay). The Medi-Cal limits are on Medi-Cal (California Medicaid health coverage): who qualifies, what you get, how to apply, and what happens next.

How to apply, and what happens after

Find a PACE organization serving your ZIP code with the CalPACE finder or Medicare's plan search, and call it (rule:find_program). The PACE team assesses the person and the state certifies the level of care (rule:state_assessment). The PACE provider can help apply for Medicare and Medi-Cal (rule:help_apply).

Once enrolled, all care goes through the PACE team, with no deductibles or copays for what it approves (rule:no_copays). Joining a separate Medicare drug plan ends PACE enrollment (rule:drug_plan_disenroll). A Medi-Cal decision can be taken to a state hearing within 90 days (rule:hearing_90), at (800) 743-8525 (rule:hearing_phone).

The procedure, stage by stage, as data
JSONThe procedure, stage by stage, as data
11 items
10 keys
"id""stage:discover"
"order"1
"name""Discover"
"what_happens""An older adult or family learns PACE exists for people 55+ who need nursing-home level care but can live at home (rule:definition)"
"who_acts""Person / family / doctor"
"timeline""No deadline"
"evidence""None"
"failure_mode""Moving to a nursing home without knowing PACE was available"
"model_role""Ask age, county and care needs; check for a PACE organization nearby"
"automation_class""C - availability depends on service area"
10 keys
"id""stage:screen_eligibility"
"order"2
"name""Screen eligibility"
"what_happens""Four tests: 55 or older (rule:age_55), lives in a PACE service area (rule:service_area), needs nursing-home level of care (rule:nursing_home_level), can live safely at home with PACE (rule:live_safely)"
"who_acts""Model + person"
"timeline""Minutes"
"evidence""Age, address, care needs"
"failure_mode""Assuming PACE needs Medi-Cal; it does not, but Medi-Cal makes it free (rule:no_premium_medicaid)"
"model_role""Check each test; say which only the state can decide"
"automation_class""A"
10 keys
"id""stage:gather_documents"
"order"3
"name""Gather documents"
"what_happens""Medicare and Medi-Cal cards; medical records for the assessment"
"who_acts""Person / family"
"timeline""Before intake"
"evidence""Medicare card, Medi-Cal card, doctor records"
"failure_mode""Applying without Medi-Cal when the person could qualify"
"model_role""Note the PACE provider can help apply for Medi-Cal (rule:help_apply)"
"automation_class""B"
10 keys
"id""stage:contact_pace"
"order"4
"name""Contact a PACE organization"
"what_happens""The person calls a PACE organization serving their area (rule:find_program)"
"who_acts""Person"
"timeline""No deadline"
"evidence""Address"
"failure_mode""No PACE organization in the area"
"model_role""Give the CalPACE finder and Medicare plan search"
"automation_class""B"
10 keys
"id""stage:interview_verification"
"order"5
"name""Interview / verification"
"what_happens""The PACE team assesses the person; the state assesses level of care (rule:state_assessment)"
"who_acts""PACE team + state"
"timeline""UNKNOWN: no official page read today states a time"
"evidence""Assessment"
"failure_mode""Assessment scored below nursing-home level"
"model_role""Prepare a list of daily-living needs"
"automation_class""C"
10 keys
"id""stage:decision"
"order"6
"name""Decision"
"what_happens""The state certifies the level of care; the person signs an enrollment agreement with the PACE organization"
"who_acts""State + PACE organization"
"timeline""UNKNOWN"
"evidence""Level-of-care certification, enrollment agreement"
"failure_mode""Not certified"
"model_role""Explain the certification result"
"automation_class""C"
10 keys
"id""stage:issuance_use"
"order"7
"name""Issuance / use"
"what_happens""All care through the PACE team: day center, home care, doctors, hospital, drugs, transportation (rule:covers_all, rule:day_center, rule:transport); no copays (rule:no_copays)"
"who_acts""PACE organization"
"timeline""From the enrollment date"
"evidence""Enrollment card"
"failure_mode""Seeing outside doctors without PACE approval"
"model_role""Explain that the PACE team approves all care"
"automation_class""C"
10 keys
"id""stage:report_changes"
"order"8
"name""Report changes"
"what_happens""Moves out of the service area and Medi-Cal changes are reported"
"who_acts""Participant"
"timeline""UNKNOWN"
"evidence""Address change"
"failure_mode""Moving out of the service area"
"model_role""Flag a planned move"
"automation_class""B"
10 keys
"id""stage:renew_recertify"
"order"9
"name""Renew / recertify"
"what_happens""Medi-Cal renewal continues for Medi-Cal participants; level of care is reviewed by the PACE team"
"who_acts""County + PACE"
"timeline""Medi-Cal: yearly"
"evidence""Medi-Cal renewal"
"failure_mode""Lost Medi-Cal brings a premium"
"model_role""Track the Medi-Cal renewal"
"automation_class""B"
10 keys
"id""stage:appeal_fair_hearing"
"order"10
"name""Appeal / fair hearing"
"what_happens""A Medi-Cal action can go to a state hearing (rule:hearing_90, rule:hearing_phone)"
"who_acts""Person + CDSS State Hearings Division"
"timeline""90 days"
"evidence""Notice"
"failure_mode""Missing the 90-day line"
"model_role""Give the deadline"
"automation_class""B"
10 keys
"id""stage:overpayment_exit"
"order"11
"name""Overpayment / exit"
"what_happens""Joining a separate Medicare drug plan disenrolls the person (rule:drug_plan_disenroll); moving out of the service area ends eligibility (rule:service_area)"
"who_acts""Participant / PACE"
"timeline""At change"
"evidence""Disenrollment notice"
"failure_mode""Joining a Part D plan by mistake"
"model_role""Warn before any Medicare plan change"
"automation_class""C"

The same facts open other programs

Age, address, care needs and Medicare or Medi-Cal status are the facts PACE asks. They also open:

References (8)
What this article shares with the graph
JSONWhat this article shares with the graph
6 keys
"program_id""B073"
"graph""california-benefits-graph"
"related_program_ids" 8 items
"B011"
"B016"
"B015"
"B013"
"B014"
"B063"
"B070"
"B065"
"related_programs" 8 keys
"B011""Medi-Cal (Medicaid) (level: Federal/State; administrator: CA Dept of Health Care Services + counties / Covered California; graph url: https://www.dhcs.ca.gov/services/medi-cal)"
"B016""Multipurpose Senior Services Program (MSSP) + CBAS (level: State; administrator: DHCS / local MSSP sites; graph url: https://www.dhcs.ca.gov/services/medi-cal)"
"B015""In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS)"
"B013""Medicare Savings Programs (QMB / SLMB / QI / QDWI)"
"B014""Medicare Part D Extra Help (Low-Income Subsidy)"
"B063""Older Americans Act meals (Meals on Wheels / congregate)"
"B070""Whole Person Care successor: CalAIM Enhanced Care Management + Community Supports (level: State/County; administrator: DHCS / Medi-Cal managed care plans; graph url: https://www.dhcs.ca.gov/CalAIM)"
"B065""Medi-Cal Dental (Denti-Cal) + vision (level: Federal/State; administrator: DHCS; graph url: https://dental.dhcs.ca.gov)"
"triggered_by_events" 2 items
"event:turning_65"
"event:senior_needs_care_at_home_aging_parent_own_decline"
"shares_facts_with" 3 keys
"person.identity.date_of_birth" 5 items
"B001"
"B011"
"B013"
"B023"
"B063"
"person.address.residential.postal_code" 5 items
"B001"
"B035"
"B043"
"B045"
"B058"
"benefits.currently_receiving[]" 4 items
"B001"
"B009"
"B043"
"B047"

Official addresses

Related pages
References (20)
  1. PACE | Medicare: what PACE is — Medicare.gov (U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services)“PACE helps eligible older adults who need nursing home-level care meet their health care needs in the community”
  2. PACE | Medicare: care team — Medicare.gov (U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services)“If you join PACE, a team of health care professionals will work with you to help coordinate your care.”
  3. PACE | Medicare: what it covers — Medicare.gov (U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services)“PACE covers all Medicare- and Medicaid-covered care and services”
  4. PACE | Medicare: services list — Medicare.gov (U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services)“Adult day primary care (including meals/special dietary needs and recreational therapy)”
  5. PACE | Medicare: transportation — Medicare.gov (U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services)“Transportation to and from the PACE center and medical appointments”
  6. PACE | Medicare: age — Medicare.gov (U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services)“Are at least 55”
  7. PACE | Medicare: service area — Medicare.gov (U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services)“Live in the service area of a PACE organization”
  8. PACE | Medicare: level of care — Medicare.gov (U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services)“Need a nursing home-level of care (as certified by your state)”
  9. PACE | Medicare: living safely — Medicare.gov (U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services)“Are able to live safely in the community with help from PACE”
  10. PACE | Medicare: no premium with Medicaid — Medicare.gov (U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services)“If you have Medicaid, you won't pay a monthly premium for PACE.”
  11. PACE | Medicare: private pay — Medicare.gov (U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services)“If you don’t have Medicare or Medicaid, you can pay the PACE premium yourself.”
  12. PACE | Medicare: no copays — Medicare.gov (U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services)“you won’t have a deductible, copayment, or co-insurance for any drug, service, or care your PACE team approves”
  13. PACE | Medicare: separate drug plan — Medicare.gov (U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services)“If you join a separate Medicare drug plan while you’re in the PACE program, you’ll be disenrolled from PACE.”
  14. PACE | Medicare: how to apply — Medicare.gov (U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services)“To find out if you’re eligible and if there’s a PACE program near you, search for”
  15. CalPACE home page: California reach — California PACE Association (CalPACE)“PACE organizations serve over 28,000 participants in 28 counties across California.”
  16. PACE Eligibility & Enrollment | CalPACE: state assessment — California PACE Association (CalPACE)“The State Administering Agency must assess the potential participant”
  17. PACE Cost | CalPACE: cost in California — California PACE Association (CalPACE)“If you are enrolled in Medicare and Medi-Cal, you will pay nothing or you will pay your Medi-Cal “share of cost” to your PACE provider.”
  18. PACE Cost | CalPACE: help applying — California PACE Association (CalPACE)“your local PACE provider can help you apply for Medicare and Medi-Cal”
  19. Hearing Requests | CDSS: the 90 days — California Department of Social Services, State Hearings Division“you have 90 days to request a state hearing.”
  20. Hearing Requests | CDSS: phone — California Department of Social Services, State Hearings Division“Call the State Hearings Division toll free (800) 743-8525”