Our Leadership
A CONVERSATION:
Approaches to Successfully Implementing or Expanding PACE Programs
May 8-10 | Dallas, TX

A Meaningful Dialogue with Powerful Potential

Join us as we facilitate a conversation – exclusively for state Medicaid professionals – about implementing or expanding your state’s PACE programs.

This free Forum is an opportunity to engage with other state agency participants for learning and discovery as we discuss the development, implementation, and quality-of-care strategies used by state PACE programs.

In addition to informative sessions with experienced speakers and moderators, this private event will include on-site evening networking events. You will have an opportunity to share experiences and learn about other governmental agencies’ processes and best practices. In particular, it is a chance to gain insight: compare approaches to PACE programs, discuss tools that have been successful, and benefit from lessons learned by others.

Agenda

The full agenda for the State PACE Forum is now available!

Topics will get into aspects of implementation, expanding, financing, and oversight of quality, plus real-world experience shared virtually by several PACE organizations. Our robust agenda will discuss market analysis, data strategy and procurement options, application challenges, rate setting, and quality.

Welcome Reception
6:00 – 8:00

Opening and Welcome
8:00 – 8:30

Why We Are Here
8:30 – 9:15
Jared Duzan – Principal, Myers and Stauffer
Rose Anne Howland – Senior Manager, Myers and Stauffer

Gain insight as we explore the interdisciplinary health care approach to keeping seniors healthy and living in their own community. We will look at PACE from the participant’s perspective, enrollment statistics and why PACE provides high satisfaction when managed well, along with the benefits of improved outcomes.

Market Analysis – Why it’s Important – An Interview with the State Administering Agency (SAA) from the Commonwealth of Kentucky
9:15 – 10:00
Alisha Clark – Assistant Director, Kentucky Department for Medicaid Services, Long Term Services
and Supports (LTSS) Division
Renae Blunt – Senior Manager, Myers and Stauffer

Data is a critical component for state agency decision-making. In this session, we’ll delve deeper into why this is true and shed light on some challenges that may occur when data isn’t used to inform service area decisions. This session will conclude with a brief highlight of various data sources and a best practices approach to market analysis.

Break
10:00 – 10:15

To Procure or Not to Procure – Selection and Deployment Strategies
10:15 – 11:00
Lisa Gregory – Public Service Administrator, Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services, Division of Medical Programs

Learn about the various options used to select PACE Organizations (PO) and the pros and cons of each option in PO selection. We will also discuss the importance of rate setting estimates prior to procurement and the impact of politics in establishing service areas.

The Application Submission and Readiness Reviews
11:00 – 11:30
Vicki Bartlett – Senior Manager, Myers and Stauffer

Application submission and readiness review requires planning and preparation. Join us to learn about the required submission process including the documentation required for upload, as well as steps necessary for readiness review.

Lunch
11:30 – 1:00

HPMS, EUA, CMS Templates, Assurances and Appendices
1:00 – 1:45
Cindy Proper – CMS, PACE Technical Director, Division of Health Homes, PACE and COB/TPL
Angela Cimino – Health Insurance Specialist, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services (CMCS)
Lisa Gregory – Public Service Administrator, Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services, Division of Medical Programs

Representatives from CMS and Illinois discuss the Health Plan Management System (HPMS) and the Enterprise User Administration. You will learn more about the process to gain access, resources available, including CMS templates, and how CMS collaborates with the SAA on review of the State Plan Pre-print. This informative session will also discuss CMS’ preliminary review of State Assurances and Appendices, adding efficiency to the process.

State Panel – Round Table with State Representatives
1:45 – 2:45
Bryan Fife – Supportive Long Term Care Programs Unit Supervisor, Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing
Nicole Collins – PACE Manager, Oklahoma Health Care Authority
Alisha Clark – Assistant Director, Kentucky Department for Medicaid Services, Long Term Services and Supports (LTSS) Division
Lisa Gregory – Public Service Administrator, Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services, Division of Medical Programs
Renae Blunt (Moderator) – Senior Manager, Myers and Stauffer

This is your opportunity to listen and learn from others who’ve been there and done it before…or are in the process right now of working toward implementing PACE. State representatives will share challenges, lessons learned, and best practices when it comes to PACE implementation, oversight, and quality monitoring. Come ready with questions!  

Break
2:45 – 3:00

Capitation Rate Setting
3:00 – 4:00
Seth Adamson – Director, CBIZ Optumas

Experts from CBIZ Optumas will share everything you need to know about the rate setting process, from data gathering to CMS submission. They’ll also discuss the process to update capitation rates and how often those updates should occur. This session will conclude with a look at the Schedule M Appendix and State Plan. 

Quality in PACE – The Federal Requirements
4:00 – 4:30
Rose Anne Howland – Senior Manager, Myers and Stauffer

What are the federal requirements? Join Rose Anne Howland, who will describe CMS quality metrics, state-specific quality metrics, and goals to ensure quality. She will also briefly discuss the CMS audits and sanctions/corrective action process.

Quality – State Monitoring
4:30 – 5:30
Bryan Fife – Supportive Long Term Care Programs Unit Supervisor, Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing
Catherine Snider – Director, Myers and Stauffer
Matt Varvaris – Senior Manager, Myers and Stauffer
Jennifer Farley – Manager, Myers and Stauffer

How does it all come together? Learn from the state of Colorado’s program objectives, measures, and quality initiatives. Our team will also share how ARPA funding was used to build Colorado’s quality program.

Happy Hour
5:45 – 7:00

Breakfast in Meeting Space
7:00 – 8:30

Opening and Recap
8:00 – 8:30
Jared Duzan – Principal, Myers and Stauffer

Esperanza Health Centers (Illinois PO)
8:30 – 9:00
Heidi Ortolaza-Alvear – Vice President of Strategy and Business Development, Esperanza Health
Centers

Join Esperanza Health Centers to learn how they are delivering health and hope for underserved communities in Illinois. In this session, you’ll hear about the Esperanza Health Centers organization and their start-up experiences, especially the biggest challenges and lessons learned.

Horizon Adult Health Care (Rural PO)
9:00 – 9:30
Kelly Upchurch – President and CEO, Horizon Adult Health Care and American Health Management

PACE Organizations in rural communities present a whole different set of challenges and opportunities. In this session, learn about Horizon Adult Health Care’s 20 year history of serving the elderly in southern and southeastern Kentucky. Hear about strategies to manage multiple PACE Center locations, barriers to enrollment, financial resources needed to reach enrollment breakeven, and how to evaluate a market’s potential.

Blue Grass Care Navigators (Mission Focus – KY)
9:30 – 10:00
Elizabeth (Liz) Fowler – President and CEO, Bluegrass Care Navigators

Bluegrass Care Navigators provides wholistic, interdisciplinary care to thousands of seriously ill patients and their families in Kentucky. In this session, you’ll learn about their organization and how the mission for hospice care naturally expanded to PACE. You’ll also hear about the challenges of starting a PACE program, barriers to enrollment, and strategies they employ to remain mission-focused and overcome start-up challenges, including the importance of peer mentors for new PACE Organizations.  

Break
10:00 – 10:15

TRU PACE (CO PO)
10:15 – 10:45
Samantha (Sam) Black – PACE Executive Director, TRU PACE

Learn about Colorado’s TRU PACE program, an innovative model that helps those over the age of 55 who need nursing-home-level care to live as independently as possible. You’ll hear about the organization, its enrolment experiences, lessons learned, and biggest challenges faced.

National PACE Association
10:45 – 11:30
Shawn Bloom – President and CEO, National PACE Association

Success of a PACE Organization requires lots of support and resources. In this session you will learn about the resources available to PACE organizations by the NPA.

Final Question and Answer
11:30 – Noon
Jared Duzan – Principal, Myers and Stauffer

Learning Objectives

  • Understand an overview of the PACE program.
  • Identify approach to determining market analysis.
  • Discuss specific state agency options to selecting PACE organizations.
  • Understand how capitation rates are established and updated.
  • Understand oversight structures and processes.
  • Share state perspectives on best practices.
  • Discuss quality in the PACE program.
  • Discuss focus areas after implementation.

Hotel

The hotel block has closed. If you need help obtaining a room, please contact us directly. Email Dana Naughton at dnaughton@mslc.com for assistance. 

The Sheraton Dallas Hotel is located in the heart of downtown Dallas and is within walking distance to many shops, restaurants, and other attractions. Dallas Love Field Airport is conveniently located only 15 minutes from the hotel.

Need help justifying your attendance at the forum? We’ve provided a simple request letter to help. Simply copy and paste the text into a Word document or email, add the appropriate names, and it is ready to submit. See you at the forum!