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

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 Ohioans who have both Medicare and Medicaid, PACE covers all of it with no out-of-pocket cost. PACE in Ohio is for people 55 and older who need an intermediate or skilled level of care, live within a PACE organization's service area, and can be served safely in the community. Long-established providers include McGregor PACE (Cleveland and surrounding counties) and PACE of Cincinnati, and Ohio is expanding PACE to new counties. Participants agree to use only PACE-network providers.

What you'll need

• Proof of Ohio 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 Ohio 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. Check whether you live inside a PACE organization's service area in Ohio — PACE is only available in certain parts of the state, so confirm coverage before taking any other steps.
2. Gather your required documents: proof of Ohio residency within a PACE service area, proof of age 55 or older (driver's license, state ID, or birth certificate), your Medicare card and/or Ohio Medicaid card if you have them, recent medical records or a physician statement showing you need a nursing-facility level of care, and a list of your current medications and providers.
3. Keep in mind that there is no income limit for PACE — Medicare, Medicaid, and private payment are all accepted, so being above Medicaid's income level does not disqualify you.
4. Apply online through Ohio's official PACE application portal.
5. Work with the PACE organization and the state to complete a clinical assessment — Ohio must certify that you need an intermediate or skilled level of care and that you can be safely served in the community.
6. Review and sign your enrollment agreement, which includes agreeing to use only PACE-network providers for your care going forward.

What to expect: After you submit your application, the PACE organization and state reviewers will schedule a clinical assessment to confirm your nursing-facility-level care certification and verify that you can live safely in the community. Processing times vary, so ask the PACE organization or the Ohio Department of Aging for an estimate of how long your review may take. Once enrolled, the PACE organization becomes your complete medical home — covering primary care, specialists, prescriptions, therapy, dental, vision, hearing, mental health, transportation, meals, and adult day services. Enrollment is ongoing, but your nursing-facility-level care certification is re-assessed every year to make sure you continue to meet the clinical criteria for the program.

Renewals

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