Literature Review

Habitat Health gets $50 million in funding, names CEO Modern Healthcare; by Diane Eastabrook; 9/10/24Habitat Health announced Tuesday it has tapped former Cigna executive Matthew Bennett as CEO and raised $50 million in capital as the company prepares to open its first Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly in Sacramento, California early next year. Bennett previously held several executive positions at Cigna, including senior vice president of care delivery at Evernorth, the company’s pharmacy and healthcare provider services business. He said he plans to use the new capital to launch Habitat Health's PACE programs throughout California. 

TRU PACE removes barriers for older adults wanting to age in place and avoid nursing homes[CO] My Prime Time News; 8/29/24September is National PACE Month—an opportunity to celebrate PACE (the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly). PACE is an innovative care model that allows older adults over age 55 with long-term care needs to live independently in their communities for as long as possible... TRU PACE provides a better quality of life with dedicated caregivers, transportation, homecare, full medical care, rehabilitation, medication, medical equipment, mental health support, meals, and opportunities for socialization at the day center. The PACE Center serves as the central hub of all services, including scheduling and transportation to and from all appointments. In PACE networks there is never a co-pay, deductible or coverage gap so you can access the care, services and medications you need. PACE’s comprehensive services and interdisciplinary team can be an invaluable solution for the older adult and their caregivers who are balancing the needs of family and work.

High Desert PACE Program launches in Victorville to provide comprehensive care for seniors Victor Valley News Group (VVNG), Victorville, CA; 8/25/24 The Victor Valley region now has a new, innovative resource for its senior population with the launch of the High Desert PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly). This new program is dedicated to offering comprehensive and personalized care to elderly individuals, helping them maintain their independence and quality of life while living in the comfort of their own homes.

Eastman Cooke completes senior healthcare facility in Brookly: ... First PACE Center in New York City EIN Presswire; 8/19/24 Eastman Cooke & Associates (ECA), a full-service, general contracting firm based in Manhattan and Long Island, has completed the construction of the first PACE Center (Program of All Inclusive Care for the Elderly) on the East Coast at 5521 8th Avenue in the Sunset Park section of Brooklyn. ... The project included the build-out of the full 8,600-square-foot second floor for the waiting room, examination rooms, and Department of Health certified medical practice. The 1,000-square-foot third floor and 1,900-square-foot fourth floor will be used as staff support and socialization areas. In addition, Eastman Cooke upgraded the electrical infrastructure at the cellar level and installed a fully integrated HVAC system at the rooftop level.

BoldAge CMO Glenn Meyers: PACE is palliative care Hospice News; by Jim Parker; 8/19/24 Palliative care is integral to Programs for All-Inclusive Care of the Elderly (PACE) programs, according to Dr. Glenn Meyers, who was recently promoted to chief medical officer of BoldAge PACE. New Jersey-headquartered BoldAge emerged last year, established by a group of former hospice and home health leaders. The company currently operates four PACE centers located in the Northwest and the Midwest, with two more slated to open before the end of the year. Ultimately, BoldAge PACE plans to build a national footprint.

Franciscan Health opens new senior wellness center in Greenwood [PACE] Daily Journal; by Ryan Trares; 8/12/24 The Franciscan Senior Health & Wellness Center, part of the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly, also known as PACE, is a newly opened facility in Greenwood [IN] focused on providing older adults with all-encompassing care. ... Exercise bikes, balance bars and massage tables fill a spacious fitness area. A primary care clinic is available in case seniors need to meet with a physician for medical conditions. Camaraderie and friendship is forged with daily activities, music, games and more inside a spacious day center.

Blue Ridge Hospice moves forward with new PACE ProgramHospice News; by Jim Parker; 8/12/24 Blue Ridge Hospice is launching its first Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) program, which will begin accepting participants on Sept. 1. The program is branded as Blue Ridge Independence at Home, designed to offer seniors a “comprehensive” suite of services to address medical and nonmedical needs and help them stay in their homes, the organization indicated. The launch reflects a longstanding trend of hospices diversifying their services to include upstream care, an area in which PACE programs are gaining ground. “Our desire to get into the PACE program was driven by a need to make the continuum of care more smooth for the frail aging population, ...” Jason Parsons, CEO of Blue Ridge Hospice, told Hospice News.Editor's Note: Blue Ridge Hospice is in Winchester, VA. 

Senators introduce bipartisan bill to expand zccess to senior care program [PACE] FCFreePress.com; by News Desk - Health News; 7/25/24 [Thursday, 7/25/24,] U.S. Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and Mike Braun (R-IN), leaders of the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging, introduced the bipartisan PACE Anytime Act. This legislative move seeks to broaden the accessibility of the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) which serves thousands of lower-income seniors and individuals with disabilities by offering comprehensive, integrated care. ... Under current regulations, eligible individuals can only enroll in PACE programs at the beginning of each month. The PACE Anytime Act proposes to remove this restriction, allowing for enrollment at any time during the month, thereby making the program more accessible. 

A blood test accurately diagnosed Alzheimer’s 90% of the time, study finds The New York Times; by Pam Belluck; 7/28/24 The New York Times says researchers “reported that a blood test was significantly more accurate than doctors’ interpretation of cognitive tests and CT scans in signaling” Alzheimer’s disease. The study “found that about 90% of the time the blood test correctly identified whether patients with memory problems had Alzheimer’s,” while “dementia specialists using standard methods that did not include expensive PET scans or invasive spinal taps were accurate 73% of the time” and “primary care doctors using those methods got it right only 61% of the time.” The findings were published in JAMA and presented at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference.

Advance care questions to ask your loved one Parkview Health; 7/27/24 ... To ease into a conversation about decisions and scenarios, we can start with questions that are easier to answer, like: What does a good day look like? If you got to spend the day with your favorite people doing your favorite things, what would you be doing? With whom? ... From there, we can talk about more specifics related to healthcare decisions, such as: If your heart and breathing stop suddenly, would you want to have CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation), which can include pushing on your chest, breathing support, medications, and electrical shocks? ... If you knew that death was likely to happen in a brief period of time, would you want to be in the hospital, in a nursing care facility or at home? ... Editor's Note: The wording, sequencing, and open-ended format of these questions gently open the door for the person to reflect on and describe one's wishes, in contrast to some advance care planning questions that focus on filling out a form. Yes, Advance Directives forms are crucial. However, the forms are a tool for now and for needs ahead. The focus is the person, while building a context of relationship and trust.

[Michigan] Local PACE center in the works WCMU Michigan News Group, Alpena, MI; by Courtney Boyd; 7/24/24 Construction has begun for a new senior service center in Alpena, which will provide services in-house and to residents homes as needed. The project has been in the works since 2023. The Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) is a non-profit organization whose goal is to provide the “highest quality of life” for seniors while allowing them to stay independent as long as possible. According to their website, pacemichigan.com, it serves as an alternative to nursing homes by providing seniors with their medical, social, and physical needs. ... [This] new center will be the 15th in the state and cover five counties: Alpena, Presque Isle, Montmorency, Alcona and parts of Iosco.

New York Department of Health previews proposed PACE regulations Lexology; by Greenberg Traurig, LLP; 7/16/24 In December 2022, New York Gov. Hochul signed legislation establishing a new streamlined licensure process for the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) under Article 29-EE of the New York Public Health Law. The Department of Health (DOH) previewed the Commissioner of Health’s proposed implementing regulations at a June 2024 meeting of the Public Health and Health Planning Council (PHHPC). The proposed regulations will be subject to the procedures of the State Administrative Procedure Act, which requires that they be published in the State Register and that the public be given a comment period. [Click on the title's link for details.]

Senior CommUnity Care of NKY Program announces opening of PACE senior care program Northern Kentucky Tribune; 7/16/24 Senior CommUnity Care of Northern Kentucky is celebrating the opening of the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) serving eligible participants residing in Northern Kentucky — including Boone, Campbell, Kenton, Gallatin, Carroll, Owen, Grant and Pendleton counties. ... Senior CommUnity Care of Northern Kentucky is a partnership of Volunteers of America National Services (VOANS) PACE Holding Company, a recognized PACE operator, and St. Elizabeth Healthcare.