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What is PACE?
Are you an older adult looking to stay out of a nursing home? Or are you a caregiver feeling overwhelmed by your responsibilities for your aging loved one?
Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly, also known as PACE, is a Medicare and Medicaid funded program that helps people meet their health care needs in the community instead of going to a nursing home or other care facility.
Participants of the PACE program receive both clinical and social benefits, including:
Primary medical care
Skilled home health care
Homemaker and personal care
Socialization
Transportation to and from PACE and to any outside appointments
If these benefits sound like something you or your loved one could take advantage of, PACE of Northeast Indiana may be a good fit for you.
Here’s how to enroll in the PACE program.
4 Steps to Enroll in the PACE Program
Step One: Schedule a Home Visit
Once you reach out via phone or by completing the online eligibility survey, a member of the PACE enrollment staff will schedule a home visit.
The goal of this visit is to determine if you would be a good fit for the PACE program.
During this visit, the enrollment team will gather the following information from you or your loved one:
Personal information such as your name and birthdate
Your insurance information and a screening to see if you are eligible for Medicare & Medicaid benefits
Family contact information
Medical information
In order to qualify for PACE, Participants must meet nursing home level of care. While the enrollment team is visiting your home, they will also conduct an Indiana Nursing Home Placement Assessment to determine if you satisfy this requirement.
Step Two: Visit the PACE Center
After the initial in-home assessment, you (and your family) will be invited to tour the PACE Day Center if you haven’t already done so!
The goal of this tour is twofold:
To introduce you or your loved one to the PACE staff (known as the Interdisciplinary Team, or IDTeam), allowing them to conduct a few assessments that will shape your Care Plan.
To acquaint you and your loved one with the PACE Center and the other Participants so you can determine whether you think PACE is a good fit for you.
Step Three: Create a Personalized Care Plan
Once you and PACE have gotten to know each other, the IDTeam will gather all the information collected up to this point and meet to create a Personalized Care Plan for you. This Care Plan includes the list of services you will receive once enrolled in the program.
After the IDTeam has finalized the Care Plan, a member of the enrollment team will schedule another home visit to review it with you and your loved one.
At this stage, you will need to make a final decision about whether you would like to enroll in PACE and begin the Care Plan. If the answer is yes, you will sign the enrollment agreement, which includes a description of PACE benefits, an explanation of policies and more.
Step Four: Receive Final Approval
You’re almost done! The final step of the PACE enrollment process is to receive approval from the State.
PACE has promised to only serve people who need long-term care. Therefore, the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration must agree that you or your loved one’s health situation makes it necessary for you to receive care from PACE.
Once you have been approved, you will begin services on the first of the following month. From start to finish, the enrollment process generally takes between 30 and 45 days.
Please note we are currently experiencing longer than normal wait times due to delays in Medicaid enrollment.Â
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How do I pay for PACE services?
PACE of Northeast Indiana is typically paid through a combination of Medicare and Medicaid and possibly through private pay sources dependent on your Medicare and Medicaid eligibility.
The majority of Participants are dually eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid. These individuals have no out-of-pocket charges for PACE services.
During the enrollment process, a member of the enrollment team will help you or your loved one complete the Medicare and Medicaid paperwork if you are eligible for these programs but are not currently enrolled.
How do I know if I’m eligible for PACE?
To qualify for PACE of Northeast Indiana, Participants must meet four requirements:
At least 55 years of age
Live in Allen County
Qualify for nursing home level of care
Be able to live safely in the community with help from PACE
A member of the PACE enrollment team will work with you to determine if you meet these requirements during the enrollment process.
You can also check your eligibility by completing our online eligibility survey.
For more information about PACE and the enrollment process, please reach out to PACE directly at 260-469-4148.
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