New Orleans Senior AdvisorWhat is PACE in New Orleans?
PACE, the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly, provides all the medical, social and support services a participant needs to keep living at home, through one team and one network; in the New Orleans area it is PACE Greater New Orleans, run by Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans at 4201 N. Rampart St. (504-945-1531).
A PACE team of doctors, nurses, therapists, social workers and others assesses each participant and builds the plan with them. PACE participants receive all Medicaid state plan and Medicare services, plus other services the team decides are needed, typically including a day center, transportation and in-home help. Participants choose providers from within the PACE network.
Who qualifies for PACE Greater New Orleans?
A person must be 55 or older, meet nursing facility level of care, live in a ZIP code PACE Greater New Orleans serves, and be able to live safely in the community at the time of enrollment.
LDH lists these ZIP codes for PACE Greater New Orleans: 70001, 70002, 70003, 70005, 70006, 70032, 70037, 70043, 70053, 70056, 70058, 70062, 70065, 70067, 70072, 70075, 70092, 70094, 70112, 70113, 70114, 70115, 70116, 70117, 70118, 70119, 70121, 70122, 70123, 70124, 70125, 70126, 70127, 70128, 70129, 70130, 70131. The list covers all of Orleans Parish and much of East Jefferson, the West Bank of Jefferson, St. Bernard and Belle Chasse, but not the Northshore or St. Charles Parish.
How much does PACE cost?
A PACE participant who is eligible for Medicaid pays nothing for PACE services; a participant with Medicare but not Medicaid pays the portion of the monthly rate Medicare does not cover; and a person who meets every other requirement may also pay privately.
PACE providers are paid a set amount per member per month and accept full financial risk for participants' care, which is why the program can coordinate so tightly. The trade-off is that participants agree to get their care through the PACE network.
How is PACE different from the Community Choices Waiver?
PACE replaces a participant's usual Medicare and Medicaid arrangements with one team that provides and pays for everything, including doctors, while the Community Choices Waiver adds home services alongside a participant's existing doctors and coverage.
PACE has no registry wait like the CCW's, but it is limited to its service area. For a parent in Gentilly or Algiers who needs coordinated medical care, PACE is often the stronger option; for someone attached to long-time doctors outside the network, the CCW may fit better.
How do I enroll in PACE Greater New Orleans?
Call PACE Greater New Orleans at 504-945-1531, or Louisiana Options in Long-Term Care at 1-877-456-1146, to start an intake; PACE staff assess eligibility, nursing home level of care is confirmed, and Medicaid eligibility is checked if the participant may qualify.
Ask about the day center schedule, transportation pickup windows for your parent's address, and how the team handles after-hours calls and hospital admissions.
At a glance
| PACE is | PACE is not | |
|---|---|---|
| Coverage | All Medicare and Medicaid services through one team | An add-on to your current doctors |
| Where | Listed ZIP codes in four parishes | Available on the Northshore |
| Cost | Free with Medicaid | Free for everyone |
| Setting | Care while living at home | A residence |
Sources include LAC 48:I.Chapter 68 (adult residential care providers), the Louisiana Department of Health's Health Standards Section and Office of Aging and Adult Services pages, the Governor's Office of Elderly Affairs, CareScout and VA rate tables as cited above; see our editorial standards.
