Letter to the editor: Ohioans need expanded PACE

This submitted column was written by Patrick Schwartz, the director of Strategic Communications at LeadingAge Ohio. It was written on behalf of the organization in response to House Bill 110. It has been lightly edited for grammar and style. 

The views expressed in this column do not reflect those of The New Political.

Editor’s Note: The letter was corrected after a fact error was made in the editing process.

Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) models are a proven method of care for elderly Ohioans. The programs work to keep people safe, cared for, healthy and in their homes for as long as possible.

For those who qualify medically and financially, PACE ensures that those who need nursing home levels-of-care have access to medical and social services, as well as care coordination.

Yet, unlike its neighboring states, Pennsylvania, Indiana and Michigan, Ohio only has one PACE provider.  Located in Cleveland, McGregor PACE serves about 650 people. However, the PACE model could better serve many more nursing-home eligible Ohioans and their families.

An amendment to expand PACE to Columbus, Cincinnati, Toledo, Akron, Dayton and Lorain was included in the Senate version of House Bill 110, and in the state’s plan to use ARPA funds to bolster home- and community-based services. Efforts are also underway to expand to more rural areas in order to serve Ohio’s older adults that rely on state health benefits.

According to research, PACE costs 33% less than the Medicaid state plan. PACE also offers unmatched participant satisfaction, with over 97% of participants reporting high satisfaction with the care received. Respected groups include the HDG group, Center for Community Solutions and the National PACE Association. The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services has also conducted research to support this data and exemplify the effectiveness of the PACE model.