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Representatives Debbie Dingell (MI-06) and John Moolenaar (MI-02) today reintroduced the PACE Expanded Act, legislation to strengthen the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE).
 
The PACE Expanded Act would support the expansion of current PACE programs and facilitate the establishment of new ones by giving PACE programs greater flexibility to enroll beneficiaries throughout the year, improving PACE access and affordability for Medicare-only beneficiaries, and establishing a pilot program to help test PACE models in new populations.
 
“The PACE model has been remarkably successful in helping seniors and Americans with disabilities age and live with dignity. As the third-largest PACE state, Michigan’s PACE providers 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,” said Dingell. “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. 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 need,” said Moolenaar. “This 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."

The legislation is supported by the National PACE Association and PACE Association of Michigan.

"With the growing number of families facing long-term care needs, the need to expand access to the Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) has never been greater,” said Shawn Bloom, President and CEO of the National PACE Association. “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."
 
“The PACE Association of Michigan applauds the strong support of PACE by Reps. Dingell and Moolenaar embodied in their collaboration on the PACE Expanded Act,” said Stephanie Winslow, Executive Director of PACE Association of Michigan. “We thank these Michigan Representatives for their ongoing recognition that it is in the best interests of not just Michigan seniors, but also all other older Americans with long term care needs, to be able to live their best lives at home rather than a nursing home.”
 
The Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) is a model of care that integrates Medicare and Medicaid benefits for eligible beneficiaries. It provides comprehensive medical and social services to seniors and individuals living with disabilities that enables them to live in their homes and communities rather than receiving care in an institutional setting. Dingell, a co-chair of the Bipartisan Disabilities Caucus and the 21st Century Long-Term Care Caucus, also introduced the PACE Plus Act last Congress to support the expansion of PACE.