Title 42 › CHAPTER 7 — SOCIAL SECURITY › SUBCHAPTER XIX — GRANTS TO STATES FOR MEDICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS › § 1396u–4
States may choose to pay for PACE (Program of All‑Inclusive Care for the Elderly) through Medicaid so long as people enrolled in a PACE program meet the rules and sign a program agreement. PACE serves people age 55 or older who need the level of care given in a nursing facility, live in the program’s service area, and meet any extra program rules. A PACE provider is usually a public or nonprofit group that has a written agreement with the State and the federal government; the federal government may allow up to 10 for‑profit pilot programs. The State pays the provider a monthly capitation amount set in the agreement. That payment is meant to be less than usual Medicaid payments and is adjusted for how frail enrollees are. Payments here are in addition to any payments under related Medicare rules. A PACE program must give full, integrated health and social services day and night, with no deductibles, copays, or limits on amount, duration, or scope for covered benefits, and must help people transition if they leave the program. Providers must use a team approach, keep quality‑assurance plans and patient rights and grievance procedures, collect and share data, and let officials review records. Eligibility is checked at least yearly (with a possible waiver when change is unlikely), and someone who temporarily fails the nursing‑level test may be kept eligible if likely to meet it again within 6 months. During the first 3 contract years the Secretary and State do yearly on‑site reviews (including financial and service checks). The Secretary can require fixes, withhold payments, or end agreements for cause. The Secretary must issue regulations using the PACE protocol dated April 14, 1995, but may allow limited adaptations so long as core elements (frail elderly focus, integrated acute and long‑term care, team care, capitated financing, and provider financial risk) stay in place. Applications are deemed approved unless denied or asked for more information within 90 days.
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The Public Health and Welfare, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Legislative History
Reference
Citation
42 U.S.C. § 1396u–4
Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare
Last Updated
Sep 23, 2026
Release point: 119-110