WHEREAS, The Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) addresses the needs of the frail elderly and disabled adults 55 years of age and older, a population that is growing rapidly and whose impact on health care costs is significant; and

WHEREAS, PACE is a fully integrated model of care that provides comprehensive, highly coordinated care allowing frail older adults who meet state eligibility criteria for nursing home level of care to continue living in the community; and

WHEREAS, Individuals enrolled in PACE receive all Medicare and Medi-Cal covered items and services and additional support, which promotes well-being and greater independence; and

WHEREAS, PACE assumes full financial risk for all care and medical services, including transportation, hospitalization, and long-term care, in return for capitated payments from Medicare and Medi-Cal; and

WHEREAS, On Lok, California’s first PACE program, opened in 1983. There are now 11 PACE programs operating in 39 sites, serving more than 7,000 participants; and

WHEREAS, The California PACE Association, known as CalPACE, formed in 2003 to support the development, expansion, success, and quality of PACE throughout California; now, therefore, be it further