Prescription Health

Keep Up With PACE kicks off 2023 with guest Peter Fitzgerald, Executive Vice President of Policy and Strategy at the National PACE Association. In this episode, Peter offers insight into the future of PACE with discussions regarding PACE 2.0, PACE policies and bills, the importance of telehealth and other technologies for participants, and growing the PACE workforce. Peter stresses the importance of eliminating barriers by making PACE more affordable for Medicare-only individuals, as well as making it easier to enroll in the program for all participants.

Episode Breakdown:

Intro: 00:00 – 01:33

Background in PACE: 01:34 – 4:25

Role at NPA: 04:26 – 08:59

Bipartisan Policy Center: 09:04 – 10:56

PACE Growth: 10:57 – 16:50

Mid-Month Access to PACE Services: 16:52 – 20:23

PACE Policies (PACE Plus Act/PACE Expanded Act/PACE Part D Plan Choice Act): 20:24 – 31:40

Future of PACE (VA contracts, telehealth, PACE workforce): 31:41 – 43:32

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council: 43:33 – 48:51

PACE Success Story: 48:52 – 51:14

Contact: 51:14 – 51:56

Rapid Fire Round: 52:06 – 53:50

Outro: 53:51 – End

Host Ankur Patel, MD, MBA, FAAFP, interviews Dr. Samira Beckwith. Dr. Beckwith has served as President and CEO of Hope Healthcare in Southwest Florida for more than 30 years. Within the state of Florida, she served on the Transition Advisory Committee on Health and Wellness, the Florida Center for Nursing Board of Directors, and the Long-Term Care Advisory Committee. Dr. Beckwith has also served on the White House Conference on Aging and on the boards of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization and the National Hospice Foundation. She is the Founding President of the Florida PACE Providers Association and a Founding Director of the National Partnership for Hospice Innovation, as well as past president of the Florida Hospice and Palliative Care Association.

Host Ankur Patel, MD, MBA, FAAFP, interviews Alan Sadowsky, PhD, MSW, Senior Vice President of MorseLife Health System. Dr. Sadowsky has administrative responsibility for the MorseLife Home Care division, which includes Palm Beach PACE, Palm Beach Hospice and Palliative Care, Home Care services, Adult Day Care, Meals on Wheels, and Geriatric Care Management. Dr. Sadowsky serves as a board member for the National PACE Association and the Florida PACE Providers Association. He previously served as president of the Area Agency on Aging of Palm Beach and Treasure Coast.

In this episode of Keep Up With PACE, Al’Asia Powell, Director of Quality and Patient Safety, Inspira LIFE, outlines the process of preparing for a CMS audit. Her outline consists of a five-phased approach a PACE program should follow – (1) complete a gap analysis, (2) create a plan, (3) execution, (4) implementation, and (5) resolution. In addition to audit preparation, Ms. Powell shares insights on creating a strong culture of compliance and effective communication within a PACE team.

Episode Breakdown:

Intro: 00:00 – 01:30

Background in PACE: 01:53 – 3:19

Role as Director of Quality and Patient Safety: 03:20 – 04:03

Culture of Compliance: 05:37 – 12:55

Phase 1 (Gap Analysis):12: 56 – 16:57

Phase 2 (Planning): 16:58 – 26:05

Phase 3 (Execution) 26:06 – 27:18

Phase 4 (Implementation): 27:19 – 29:02

Phase 5 (Resolution): 29:03 – 32:00

Creating a Non-Punitive Environment: 32:01 – 33:15

Continuing Improvement: 33:16 – 38:56

Tips for Preparation: 38:57 – 41:19

Success Story/Inspiration: 41:20 – 44:20

Rapid Fire Round: 44:26 – 46:58

Outro: 46:58 – End

Host Ankur Patel, MD, MBA, FAAFP, interviews Maria Zamora, CEO at Center for Elders’ Independence (CEI). Maria has been with CEI since March 2021 and has more than 24 years of experience in the healthcare and insurance industries. Prior to joining CEI, Maria served as Vice President of Senior Care Services/PACE at AltaMed Health Services and Regional Executive Director for InnovAge. She serves as Chair and Executive Committee member of the Board of Directors for the National PACE Association and serves as Vice Chair and Executive Committee member of the Board of Directors for California PACE Association.