Evaluating the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE)

Overview

Since its inception in the 1970s, the Program for All Inclusive-Care for the Elderly (PACE) has offered a promising model to deliver community-based person-centered care for older adults with complex health issues. While preliminary reports indicate that the program was adept at keeping participants safe and well cared for during the Covid-19 pandemic, there is little prior empirical work investigating its overall efficacy. Altarum conducted a first-of-its-kind evaluation of PACE to advance evidence-based health care solutions for individuals requiring both medical services and long-term services and supports (LTSS).

Approach

With funding from the Agency on Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) and endorsement from the National PACE Association (NPA), Altarum has systematically cataloged innovations and adaptations made at PACE sites across the country throughout 2020 and 2021 using a mixed-methods approach combining quantitative and qualitative surveys with in-depth interviewing. Our analysts have also leveraged  claims data from PACE participants to build a closely matched cohort of fee-for-service beneficiaries to compare health outcomes across the two groups during pre-pandemic, pandemic, and post-vaccine time periods.