WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) wants to ensure that older Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries who wish to continue to live at home with a little bit of support are able to do so.
Sens. Toomey and Tom Carper (D-Del.) authored a bipartisan bill to make it easier for states to establish Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), which provide seniors with in-home support or care in adult day health centers. Their bill passed the Senate last week unanimously.
PACE is a voluntary Medicaid and Medicare program serving almost 30,000 Americans over 55 who qualify for nursing home care but wish to remain in their homes while still receiving a high level of coordinated care.
The Toomey-Carper bill also gives PACE administrators more flexibility to improve, innovate, and reduce technical and administrative barriers. Such flexibility will permit more beneficiaries to participate in the program thus keeping them out of long-term care institutions.
"Helping seniors receive quality health care and other support services is an important priority of mine. In Pennsylvania, PACE programs have been extremely successful in achieving this aim," said Sen. Toomey. "The commonwealth has 17 PACE programs - the most in the country-- and 4,300 enrollees. Sen. Carper and I want to allow these programs to build on their innovative model and give PACE beneficiaries access to improved health care services."
"Thanks to Sen. Toomey, people with disabilities and other vulnerable populations will be able to access the high-quality, comprehensive services offered by PACE," said Shawn Bloom-National PACE Association President and CEO. "On behalf of the National PACE Association, our 115 PACE programs and the 35,000 participants we serve, we applaud Sen. Toomey for his leadership on this bipartisan, common sense measure."
"Through his leadership, Sen. Toomey has guided the passage of the PACE Innovation Act through the Senate" said Pam Mammarella-Chair
Pennsylvania LIFE Providers Alliance. "We thank him for continually fighting to expand the PACE/LIFE program and allow individuals to avoid nursing home placement and continue to receive the critical health and long-term care services in their homes and communities. Sen. Toomey's commitment to the most vulnerable and frailest populations has been unwavering. We look forward to full passage of the PACE Innovation Act in the House."
"We support Sen. Toomey's leadership to expand PACE's growth and innovation by amending specific regulatory requirements" said Robert McQuillan Associate Vice President - LIFE Geisinger. "PACE has always been about providing patient-centered care and services through an innovative system. Caring for frail seniors in the community is the core mission of LIFE Geisinger. When we have the opportunity to update and streamline regulations - to be inclusive of other community providers in our service areas - and meet the needs of a larger senior population in their homes, we see that as a win for seniors."
