Advocates Urge Lame Duck Passage of $50M PACE Expansion Bill
Bills in this Story
134-HB600 EXPAND PACE (Roemer, B)
134-HB110 OPERATING BUDGET (Oelslager, S)
Mentioned in this Story
Sen. Hearcel Craig (D-Columbus)
Sen. Tina Maharath (D-Columbus)
Rep. Tracy Richardson (R-Columbus)
Rep. Bill Roemer (R-Columbus)
Rep. Allison Russo (D-Columbus)

The General Assembly should pass legislation providing $50 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars to expand the Program for All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), advocates said during a roundtable discussion with state legislators on Friday.

PACE, which allows nursing home-eligible individuals to instead receive care while living at home, is currently only available in one county in Ohio -- Cuyahoga County. Program advocates are seeking legislation to require the Ohio Department of Aging (ODA) to expand PACE into Franklin, Hamilton, Montgomery, Lorain, Lucas and Summit counties.

Mike Dittoe, a partner with High Bridge Consulting, said PACE expansion was part of the Senate version of the biennial budget, HB110 (Oelslager), but the language was pulled out during conference committee so further work could be done on a standalone bill. After that, Dittoe said, Gov. Mike DeWine suggested spending $50 million in ARPA dollars on PACE expansion, and stakeholders determined they could create six new sites with that level of funding. That proposal was introduced as HB600 (Roemer), and was referred to the House Finance Committee in March.

“We have not had a hearing on that bill yet, but really the point of the bill was to continue the conversation, much like we’re having today. We never fully intended that HB600 would necessarily be the vehicle, but we wanted to continue the conversation on the PACE expansion,” Dittoe said, noting ODA and the Ohio Department of Medicaid (ODM) have been working with advocates on the bill, and there is widespread agreement on the latest legislative language.

“What we are asking of our legislative attendees today is, we hope that we can advance this bill in the lame duck session, whether it is HB600 by itself … or however you see fit as an amendment to another vehicle that is moving,” Dittoe said.

Lawmakers in attendance included House Minority Leader Allison Russo (D-Columbus), Sen. Tina Maharath (D-Canal Winchester), Sen. Hearcel Craig (D-Columbus) and Rep. Tracy Richardson (R-Marysville).

Maharath asked why zero Democrats have co-sponsored HB600 at this point, with Dittoe saying he’s not sure, noting that PACE expansion had bipartisan support in the Senate and that Rep. Bill Roemer (R-Richfield) has discussed the legislation with Democrats in the House.

Ann Conn, president and CEO of the McGregor Foundation, said her organization has been managing PACE in Cuyahoga County since 2010.

“When we took over the program it had 150 seniors that we were supporting. … We now support over 650,” Conn said, noting the average PACE center across the U.S. serves 500 seniors.

Conn provided an overview of the program, saying it serves individuals 55 and older who are eligible for Medicaid or those who are dually eligible for Medicaid and Medicare. PACE is a provider-based managed care program that assumes full financial risk for primary, acute and long-term care services they provide. Services provided by PACE include adult day health services, personal care services, inpatient hospital care, prescription drugs, physical therapy and nursing home care, among others.

Patrick Schwartz, director of government affairs and communications at LeadingAge Ohio, said PACE would also provide financial benefits for the state, as it costs $1,100 a month less than MyCare Ohio.

Conn told Russo that 10 percent of the PACE participants in Cuyahoga County are Medicaid only, while 90 percent are dually eligible. Conn told Maharath that 60 percent of the participants are Black, while 30 percent are Hispanic and 10 percent are White.

Craig suggested churches could be used to spread the message about PACE as the program expands, and Conn said 25 percent of Cuyahoga County’s participants were referred by the faith community.

Conn told Richardson that PACE in Cuyahoga County hasn’t had more applicants than resources at this point. Conn did say the process is cumbersome, as it takes 45 days to get enrolled and it has to occur on the first of the month. Conn said her program enrolls 20 to 25 people a month, and hasn’t ever had to turn anyone away because of space.

Conn told Richardson that PACE continues to pay for participants who eventually need to be placed in a nursing home, but only about 10 percent do. She said about 90 percent stay in their homes or in assisted living until they pass away.

Friday’s event took place at the National Church Residences Rt. 161 location in Columbus. Other participants at the event included the following:

- Mark Ricketts, president and CEO of National Church Residences

- Jacob Swint, vice president of strategic growth and operations at National Church Residences

- Mica Rees, chief brand and growth officer at Ohio Living

- Wendy Price Kiser, division executive of home health and hospice at Ohio Living

- Kerry Hamilton, chief strategy officer at Ohio’s Hospice

- Paul Soczynski, senior vice president of health care program development at Volunteers of America

- Susan Wallace, president and CEO of LeadingAge Ohio.

Story originally published in The Hannah Report on September 2, 2022.  Copyright 2022 Hannah News Service, Inc.