PACE is a Medicare and Medicaid funded program that provides comprehensive medical and social services to enable older adults to live in the community instead of a nursing home. Pennsylvania has been a national leader in promoting the PACE concept.

On a national level, the program is referred to as PACE (Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly). But that name was changed in Pennsylvania to avoid confusion with our state pharmaceutical assistance program. In Pennsylvania PACE programs are generally referred to as LIFE (Living Independently For Elders).

Despite being in existence for decades the PACE concept has been relatively slow to grow. Currently about 38,000 older adults are enrolled in 120 PACE organizations in 31 states. Legislators have been encouraging the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to update the program in order to increase the use of what is seen as more cost effective and desirable home based care. See Lawmakers Push for Sweeping Changes to PACE Program.

Now, CMS is proposing a rule to update and modernize the PACE program. It is the first update in ten years. The rule was published today (August 16, 2016) in the Federal Register.

The proposed rule is intended to modernize the program, improve care to beneficiaries, and expand the program. In order to expand access to PACE, CMS is proposing a number flexibilities including allowing non-physician primary care practitioners to provide some services in the place of primary care physicians.

For more information on the PACE (LIFE) program in Pennsylvania see my prior article Frail older adults can stay at home with LIFE program’s help.

I have reproduced a list of the LIFE programs currently operating in Pennsylvania below. In you live in another state to find a PACE program near you visit the PACE Program Finder here.

Pennsylvania PACE (LIFE) programs:  

Albright LIFE Lancaster
417 W. Frederick St.
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
+1 717 381 4320

Albright LIFE Lebanon
113 S. Ninth Street
Lebanon, Pennsylvania
+1 717 376 1133

Albright LIFE Williamsport
901 Memorial Avenue
Williamsport, Pennsylvania
+1 570 322 5433

Community LIFE
2400 Ardmore Blvd.
Suite 700
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
+1 412 436 1320

LIFE – NWPA
Erie, Pennsylvania

LIFE – Pittsburgh
681 Andersen Drive
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
+1 412 388 8042

LIFE Beaver County
Aliquippa, Pennsylvania
+1 724 378 5400

LIFE Butler County
Butler, Pennsylvania
+1 724 287 5433

LIFE Geisinger – IHM Center
Scranton, Pennsylvania
+1 800 395 8759
mchastie@geisinger.edu

(Has Extension location in Wilkes-Barre)

LIFE Geisinger – Roosevelt Court Center
Kulpmont, Pennsylvania
+1 866 230 6465
dpcarr@geisinger.edu

LIFE Lawrence County
New Castle, Pennsylvania
+1 724 657 8800

LIFE Lutheran Services, Inc.
Chambersburg, Pennsylvania
+1 717 264 5433
info@lifelutheranservices.org

LIFE St. Mary
Trevose, Pennsylvania
+1 267 991 7600
MLeib@stmaryhealthcare.org

Mercy LIFE
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
+1 215 339 4747

Mercy LIFE – West Philadelphia
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
+1 215 573 7200

Mercy LIFE Sharon Hill
Sharon Hill, Pennsylvania
+1 215 339 4747

Mercy LIFE Valley View
Elwyn, Pennsylvania
+1 215 339 4747

NewCourtland LIFE
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
+1 267 335 1500

PACE Armstrong County
115 Nolte Drive Extension
Kittanning, Pennsylvania
+1 724 545 8000
Julie.pella@lutheranseniorlife.org

Senior LIFE Ebensburg
429 Manor Drive
Edensburg, Pennsylvania
+1 814 472 6060
info@seniorlifepa.com

Senior LIFE Johnstown
401 Broad St.
Johnstown, Pennsylvania
+1 877 998 5433
info@seniorLIFEpa.com

Senior LIFE Uniontown
89 West Fayette St.
Uniontown, Pennsylvania
+1 877 998 5433
info@seniorlifepa.com

Senior LIFE Washington
2114 North Franklin Drive
Washington, Pennsylvania
+1 877 998 5433
info@seniorlifepa.com

Senior LIFE York
1500 Memory Lane Ext.
York, Pennsylvania
+1 877 998 5433
info@seniorlifepa.com

SeniorLIFE Greensburg
123 Triangle Drive
Greensburg, Pennsylvania
+1 724 838 8300
info@seniorlifepa.com

SeniorLIFE Lehigh Valley
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
+1 610 954 5433

SpiriTrust Luthern LIFE
840 Fifth Avenue
Chambersburg, Pennsylvania
+1 800 840 9081