The leaders of the Senate Committee on Aging submit a bill on aging
The bipartisan duo leading the US Senate Special Committee on Aging – Sens. Bob Casey, D-Penn., and Mike Braun, R-Ind. – introduced a bill this week aimed at making it easier for American seniors to qualify for the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) program.
The program, which Casey’s office describes as “an alternative care model to traditional home care that can help people receive care in the community,” is a key part of the duo’s “PACE Anytime Act,” which would expand access would “expand” to health care. the PACE program.
“PACE programs primarily provide services in adult day health centers, allowing individuals to remain in their homes and communities,” said a joint announcement of the senators. “Currently, eligible older adults and people with disabilities can only enroll in a PACE program on the first of each month – the PACE Anytime Act removes enrollment barriers by allowing eligible individuals to enroll at any time to register the month.”
Senator Casey is a pro-aging advocate and sees this legislation as a possible solution to improve the lives of Pennsylvania’s seniors.
“PACE programs enable seniors and people with disabilities to receive all their essential care while remaining in their communities,” Casey said in a statement. “While the PACE program provides high-quality, comprehensive care, limited enrollment opportunities have made access to the program unnecessarily difficult. My new bill will make it much easier to enroll in the PACE program and give seniors and people with disabilities the flexibility to get the care they need.”
Senator Braun, the ranking member of the Aging Committee, who recently inquired about the operation of the reverse mortgage program to leaders of Ginny Maeadded that the bill would relax existing rigidities in the qualification process for the PACE program.
“Older Americans should be able to get the care they need in their communities, without barriers,” said Ranking Member Braun. “The PACE Anytime Act would increase flexibility for low-income seniors and people with disabilities to enroll in the PACE program.”
Shawn Bloom, president and CEO of the National PACE Association (NPA) added that the bill would increase opportunities for more seniors to stay where they increasingly prefer to be as they grow older.
“No older adult should have to wait until the first of the month to begin receiving care and services from PACE,” Bloom said. “Given the rapidly increasing number of older Americans and their apparent desire to age in place, it is imperative that our nation encourages easy access to PACE – a holistic care model well-equipped to meet the complex care needs of individuals, at home and in health care. community instead of a nursing home.”
Senator Braun’s seat is up for re-election in November, but he has declined to run after securing the Republican gubernatorial nomination for Indiana.
