Press Releases

U.S. Reps. Debbie Dingell and John Moolenaar Introduce Legislation to Spur Growth of Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly

WASHINGTON, DC – Dec. 6, 2023 – The National PACE Association (NPA) applauds U.S. Reps. Debbie Dingell (D-MI-12) and John Moolenaar (R-MI-4) for reintroducing the PACE Expanded Act, which seeks to accelerate the capacity and reach of the existing 155 Programs of All-Inclusive Care for Elderly (PACE) and spur the establishment of new PACE organizations.

PACE empowers older adults and people with disabilities to live at home and in their communities despite being eligible for nursing home care. PACE participants receive care and services such as primary care, long-term care services and supports (LTSS), medications, therapies, behavioral health, meals and socialization in their homes and at their local PACE center. All of their health care, nutrition, transportation and other needs are identified in an individualized care plan by a dedicated interdisciplinary team.

“The PACE model has been remarkably successful in helping seniors and Americans with disabilities age and live with dignity,” said Rep. Dingell. “PACE providers in Michigan, the third largest PACE state, deliver critical long-term supportive services for individuals wishing to remain in their homes, which is overwhelmingly the setting Americans prefer. Access to this program makes a real difference, but hundreds of thousands of Americans continue to sit on waitlists to receive home and community-based services. We must do more to ensure Americans have the option to live independently in the comfort of their own homes. With the PACE Expanded Act, we can put these long-term supports in reach for those who need them the most.”

“Michigan seniors deserve to have options when they need access to reliable long-term care, including the option to receive home care,” said Rep. Moolenaar. “This legislation ensures that this option is available to seniors and helps makes sure that they don’t need to travel long distances to get the care they needThis common-sense, bipartisan legislation will cut through red tape and make sure that the PACE program is available to more seniors. I am proud to introduce this legislation, and I will continue to advocate for Michigan seniors."

"With the growing number of families facing long-term care needs, the need to expand access to PACE has never been greater,” said Shawn Bloom, president and CEO of the National PACE Association (NPA). “Families need options like PACE that keep their loved ones living in the community for as long as possible. NPA commends Rep. Dingell and Rep. Moolenaar for their leadership and continued commitment to expanding access to PACE."

PACE is a “high performer,” according to a recent analysis of integrated care models by the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation in the Office of Behavioral Health, Disability and Aging Policy at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The study found that “full-benefit, dual-eligible beneficiaries in PACE are significantly less likely to be hospitalized, to visit the emergency department, or to be institutionalized” compared to the control group.

The findings were highlighted in a recent Bipartisan Policy Center report titled “Improving Access to and Enrollment in Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE).” The report contains several of the recommendations included in the PACE Expanded Act. Mary Nabor, president and CEO of PACE Southeast Michigan and a member of the NPA Board of Directors, participated in the release of the report.

U.S. Reps. Debbie Dingell and John Moolenaar Introduce Legislation to Spur Growth of Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly

WASHINGTON, DC – Dec. 6, 2023 – The National PACE Association (NPA) applauds U.S. Reps. Debbie Dingell (D-MI-12) and John Moolenaar (R-MI-4) for reintroducing the PACE Expanded Act, which seeks to accelerate the capacity and reach of the existing 155 Programs of All-Inclusive Care for Elderly (PACE) and spur the establishment of new PACE organizations.

PACE empowers older adults and people with disabilities to live at home and in their communities despite being eligible for nursing home care. PACE participants receive care and services such as primary care, long-term care services and supports (LTSS), medications, therapies, behavioral health, meals and socialization in their homes and at their local PACE center. All of their health care, nutrition, transportation and other needs are identified in an individualized care plan by a dedicated interdisciplinary team.

“The PACE model has been remarkably successful in helping seniors and Americans with disabilities age and live with dignity,” said Rep. Dingell. “PACE providers in Michigan, the third largest PACE state, deliver critical long-term supportive services for individuals wishing to remain in their homes, which is overwhelmingly the setting Americans prefer. Access to this program makes a real difference, but hundreds of thousands of Americans continue to sit on waitlists to receive home and community-based services. We must do more to ensure Americans have the option to live independently in the comfort of their own homes. With the PACE Expanded Act, we can put these long-term supports in reach for those who need them the most.”

“Michigan seniors deserve to have options when they need access to reliable long-term care, including the option to receive home care,” said Rep. Moolenaar. “This legislation ensures that this option is available to seniors and helps makes sure that they don’t need to travel long distances to get the care they needThis common-sense, bipartisan legislation will cut through red tape and make sure that the PACE program is available to more seniors. I am proud to introduce this legislation, and I will continue to advocate for Michigan seniors."

"With the growing number of families facing long-term care needs, the need to expand access to PACE has never been greater,” said Shawn Bloom, president and CEO of the National PACE Association (NPA). “Families need options like PACE that keep their loved ones living in the community for as long as possible. NPA commends Rep. Dingell and Rep. Moolenaar for their leadership and continued commitment to expanding access to PACE."

PACE is a “high performer,” according to a recent analysis of integrated care models by the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation in the Office of Behavioral Health, Disability and Aging Policy at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The study found that “full-benefit, dual-eligible beneficiaries in PACE are significantly less likely to be hospitalized, to visit the emergency department, or to be institutionalized” compared to the control group.

The findings were highlighted in a recent Bipartisan Policy Center report titled “Improving Access to and Enrollment in Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE).” The report contains several of the recommendations included in the PACE Expanded Act. Mary Nabor, president and CEO of PACE Southeast Michigan and a member of the NPA Board of Directors, participated in the release of the report.