How to apply for Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) in Indiana

Who it's for

PACE is a comprehensive, integrated care program for seniors who are certified as needing a nursing-home level of care but want to keep living in the community. A single PACE organization becomes the participant's complete medical home — primary care, specialists, hospital care, prescriptions, physical and occupational therapy, dental, vision, hearing, mental health, transportation to appointments, meals, and adult day care at a PACE center. For Hoosiers who have both Medicare and Indiana Medicaid, PACE covers all of it with no out-of-pocket cost. PACE in Indiana is for people 55 and older who need a nursing-facility level of care, live within a PACE organization's service area, and can be served safely in the community. Franciscan Senior Health & Wellness operates PACE centers including Indianapolis/Greenwood, Lafayette, Dyer (Lake County), and Michigan City. Participants agree to use only PACE-network providers.

What you'll need

• Proof of Indiana residency within a PACE organization's service area
• Proof of age 55+ (driver's license, state ID, or birth certificate)
• Medicare card (if enrolled) and Indiana Medicaid card (if enrolled)
• Recent medical records or a physician statement supporting the need for nursing-facility-level care
• List of current medications and providers

Where to apply

Step by step

1. Confirm that you live within a PACE organization's service area and are 55 or older. Not every Indiana county has a PACE center, so contact a PACE organization — such as Franciscan Senior Health & Wellness — to check coverage in your area.
2. Gather your required documents: proof of Indiana residency within a PACE service area, proof of age 55+ (driver's license, state ID, or birth certificate), your Medicare card (if enrolled) and Indiana Medicaid card (if enrolled), recent medical records or a physician statement showing you need nursing-facility-level care, and a list of your current medications and providers.
3. Contact the PACE organization serving your area — for example, Franciscan Senior Health & Wellness — to start the application process and confirm your eligibility, including the required nursing-facility-level-of-care certification.
4. Apply online through Indiana's official application channel. The PACE organization or Indiana FSSA Division of Aging can direct you to the correct online application.
5. Complete any assessments required to certify your nursing-facility level of care. A care team will review your medical records and may conduct an in-person evaluation.
6. If you are not yet enrolled in Indiana Medicaid, ask the PACE organization or FSSA about enrolling, as Medicaid enrollment is needed for $0-cost PACE coverage.
7. After approval, work with your PACE organization to transition your care. You will agree to use only PACE-network providers, and the PACE organization becomes your complete medical home.

What to expect: After submitting your application, the PACE organization and Indiana FSSA will review your documents and conduct a nursing-facility-level-of-care assessment. Processing times vary, so ask the PACE organization for an estimate of how long the review will take. Once enrolled, all your care — including primary care, specialists, prescriptions, therapy, dental, vision, mental health, transportation, meals, and adult day services — is coordinated through your PACE center. Enrollment is ongoing, but your nursing-facility-level-of-care certification is re-assessed each year to confirm you still meet that requirement. Keep your documents and medical information up to date so your annual re-assessment goes smoothly. Note: this walkthrough is not legal or financial advice.

Renewals

ongoing (annual re-assessment of nursing-facility-level certification)