A Focus on the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE). Issue 5 (20th October 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gonzalez, Lori
• Is Part Of: Journal of aging & social policy. Volume 29:Issue 5(2017)
• Page Start: 475
• Page End: 490
• Publication Date: 2017-10-20
• Subjects: Community-based care -- hospice -- long-term care -- PACE -- profit status; Older people -- United States -- Periodicals; Older people -- Government policy -- United States -- Periodicals; Older people -- Periodicals; Older people -- Medical care -- United States -- Periodicals; 362.605
• DOI: 10.1080/08959420.2017.1281092
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0895-9420

Abstract

ABSTRACT: For over four decades, the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) 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 PACE, 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 PACE 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 PACE provides the same quality of care as existing nonprofit operators.