Provided by Bronson Healthcare Group

Program for All-Inclusive Care of the Elderly Coming to Kalamazoo

Brings 65-70 new jobs to downtown Kalamazoo

KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Providing high quality medical care and social support for low-income elderly patients living at home is the objective of the Program for All-Inclusive Care of the Elderly (PACE), recently approved by the State of Michigan to operate in Kalamazoo County.

PACE is a unique capitated managed care program that provides community-based care and services for frail elderly who may otherwise need nursing home care. PACE provides comprehensive medical and social services for persons eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid benefits,  in an adult day care setting, supplemented by in-home and referral services in accordance with each individual’s needs.

Currently, there are about 80 PACE programs in the United States of which four are based in Michigan – Battle Creek, Detroit, Grand Rapids, and Muskegon. In addition, there are two other programs being started in Berrien and Washtenaw Counties.  Due to efforts over the last two and a half years by Kalamazoo PACE Stakeholders, an advocacy group of area senior care leaders, Kalamazoo will become the seventh community to offer this comprehensive approach to elder care in Michigan.

The Kalamazoo PACE Stakeholders group is a collaborative comprised of representatives from Bronson Methodist Hospital; Senior Services of Southwest Michigan; Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan; Area Agency on Aging IIIA; Heritage Community; Family Health Center;  Western Michigan University; Kalamazoo Center for Medical Studies; Ecumenical Senior Center,  Kalamazoo Community Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services; and CentraCare, Inc.

Jean Maile, Chief Executive Officer, Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan, says, “As we came together seeking the best way to meet the needs of seniors in our community, we discovered that for many people with complex, chronic care needs, PACE is an optimal model of care.  Having every aspect of care coordinated in one place really helps seniors stabilize their health and allows them to continue living at home for as long as possible. That equates to a much better quality of life.”

Denise Crawford, President and CEO, Family Health Center, adds, “Bringing PACE to Kalamazoo is an important step toward collaborative health management of this area’s high risk, low income, elder population.  PACE complements the work we are doing at the Family Health Center for low income individuals of all ages and will certainly help many seniors achieve safe, healthier living in the familiar surroundings of their own homes.”

Robert W. Littke, President and CEO, Senior Services of Southwest Michigan, says, “Senior Services of Southwest Michigan is delighted to be a primary partner in bringing this important program to our area.  As the area’s largest provider of services to older adults we see a significant number of people who could benefit from PACE and we are confident that this model will enhance the continuum of care offered in our community”.

The Kalamazoo PACE program will be operated by CentraCare, Inc., a non-profit community corporation that has successfully managed a PACE program in Battle Creek since 2009.  Rod Auton, Executive Director of CentraCare, says, “We are honored to work with the Kalamazoo PACE Stakeholders to bring this life-changing program for seniors and their families in Kalamazoo. We’ve seen firsthand the positive impact PACE has had in Calhoun County and look forward to working with Bronson and other care providers in Kalamazoo County to implement this unique care solution.”

In Battle Creek, hospital length of stay for PACE participants is down to 3.8 days compared to the state average of 4.6 days for the dual eligible (Medicare and Medicaid) population. The 30 day hospital readmission rate for PACE participants is 8.3% compared to 22.0%.

Next month, CentraCare will begin redeveloping a 16,000 square foot facility at 445 West Michigan Avenue in downtown Kalamazoo with tentative plans to open it in January, 2013.  CentraCare expects to hire 65-70 employees to staff the Kalamazoo site which will have the capacity to serve 225 PACE participants.

To qualify for the program, individuals must be at least 55 years old, live in Kalamazoo County, certified as eligible for nursing home level of care, and deemed safe to live at home with the help of PACE services.

Typical PACE services include:

• Adult day care with nursing; physical, occupational and recreational therapies; meals; nutritional counseling; social work and personal care
• Medical care provided by a PACE physician familiar with the history, needs and preferences of each participant
• Home health care and personal care
• All necessary prescription drugs
• Social services
• Transportation
• Medical specialists such as audiology, dentistry, optometry, podiatry, and speech therapy
• Respite care
• Hospital and nursing home care when necessary

PACE providers receive monthly Medicare and Medicaid capitation payments for each eligible enrollee, and they assume full financial risk for participants’ care without limits on amount, duration, or scope of services.

The collaboration and coordination intrinsic to this model of care is what makes the program so successful.  According to Rhonda Yellig, Administrative Director of Senior Adult Services at Bronson, “There is currently no service in Kalamazoo that takes such a comprehensive approach to care.  But we know from the experience of other communities, and from what CentraCare has achieved in Battle Creek, that the approach works.  By bringing all necessary resources together and smoothing out transitions of care, better health outcomes can be achieved and expenses reduced as the need for emergency services and hospital readmissions can often be avoided. PACE is a proven program and we expect it to be a valuable addition to our community.”