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The Growing Pains of Integrated Health Care for the Elderly: Lessons from the Expansion of PACE
Author(s) -
GROSS DIANE L.,
TEMKINGREENER HELENA,
KUNITZ STEPHEN,
MUKAMEL DANA B.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
the milbank quarterly
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.563
H-Index - 101
eISSN - 1468-0009
pISSN - 0887-378X
DOI - 10.1111/j.0887-378x.2004.00310.x
Subject(s) - pace , competition (biology) , referral , health care , business , medicine , economic growth , nursing , economics , geography , ecology , geodesy , biology
The early success of the demonstration Program of All‐Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) led to its designation as a permanent Medicare program in 1997. But the growth in the number of programs and enrollment has lagged and does not meet expectations. This article offers insights into the mechanisms influencing the expansion of PACE, from information obtained in interviews and surveys of administrators, medical directors, and financial officers in 27 PACE programs. Sixteen barriers to expansion were found, including competition, PACE model characteristics, poor understanding of the program among referral sources, and a lack of financing for expansion. This experience offers important lessons for providing integrated health care to the frail elderly.