Posted April 3, 2023

Policy Brief and Recommendations to the Secretary: Programs of All-Inclusive Care For the Elderly in Rural America

Posted In: Age-Friendly Health Systems, Publications, Professionals

Programs of All Inclusive Care For the Elderly in Rural America 1

The National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services has released a report, "Programs of All-Inclusive Care For the Elderly in Rural America: Policy Brief and Recommendation to the Secretary."

The committee advises the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and its report fully endorses expanding Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE). The report recommends eight strategies so additional older adults residing in rural areas may have access to needed care and services in their homes and communities:

  1. Support a PACE pilot focused on Medicare only beneficiaries, including Part D coverage challenges, to assess viability in rural areas, and determine start-up capital needed for sustainability.
  2. Consider how best to extend telehealth coverage to PACE organizations.
  3. Support the development of a rural PACE resource guide to promote the model to rural and tribal communities and provide technical assistance and case studies from successful rural and tribal programs.
  4. Support guidance to clarify the range of allowable shared space arrangements for Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) and encourage partnerships between CAHs and PACE organizations.
  5. Allow PACE sites to be eligible for loan repayment under the National Health Service Corps and the Nurse Corps.
  6. Encourage students trained through HRSA Health Profession and IHS training programs to rotate to rural PACE service sites.
  7. Allow PACE organizations to submit multiple applications simultaneously.
  8. Allow existing PACE sites to have an expedited approval process for expanding to new service area populations on a rolling basis.

Representatives of JAHF and its grantee, the National PACE Association, presented to the committee as part of the report's development.

Read the policy brief.
Learn more National Advisory Committee on Rural Health & Human Services.
Read a related article in McKnights Home Care.
Learn more about PACE.
Learn more about JAHF's support of PACE.