Stability of Disability Among PACE Enrollees: Financial and Programmatic Implications

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Health Services Research
• Public Health Policy

Background:

• The Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) offers integrated healthcare services for seniors.
• Understanding participant outcomes and program variations is crucial for optimizing care delivery.
• The study focuses on the initial cohort of PACE programs to establish baseline performance metrics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the functional status changes in PACE participants.
• To assess the relationship between enrollment duration, participant risk factors, and functional status.
• To identify areas for quality improvement within PACE programs.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of data from the first 11 Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) programs.
• Longitudinal assessment of participant functional status.
• Statistical analysis of participant characteristics and their impact on outcomes.

Main Results:

• Mature PACE programs demonstrate a stable mix of participant disabilities over time.
• Significant variations in participant outcomes and program performance were observed across different PACE sites.
• Specific patient characteristics at admission were linked to the likelihood of functional status improvement.

Conclusions:

• The stability in disability mix supports the existing PACE payment structure.
• Program-specific payment adjustments may be warranted due to inter-program variability.
• Identifying patient risk factors can guide targeted quality improvement initiatives within PACE.