Mountain Empire PACE
What is PACE?
Mountain Empire PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly) enriches the lives of older adults because of the comprehensive and tailored medical and social services provided. An alternative to nursing facilities, PACE is designed to help older adults remain independent and in their own homes or community as is medically feasible, connected to family and friends. The program is sponsored by Medicare, Medicaid and private pay funds. From medical, social and emotional health, we provide a full spectrum of services administered and coordinated by a PACE Interdisciplinary Team.
Participants can be picked up at their home and transported to the PACE Center on scheduled days. At the center, they may be scheduled to receive medical care, therapy and social activities. Participants eat a hot lunch and may receive a morning and afternoon snack. Participants will also be transported, at no cost, to their specialty medical appointments as authorized.
Mountain Empire PACE offers health coverage 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. All services must be approved by the PACE Interdisciplinary Team.
Eligibility
Mountain Empire PACE serves adults at least age 55 who:
- live in Lee, Scott or Wise counties or Norton
- are eligible for nursing facility level of care
- are able to live safely at home and in the community with support.
Cost
When you enroll in Mountain Empire PACE, you agree to receive all your health care through our program, including primary care and specialty physician services (other than emergency services). Mountain Empire PACE is a non-profit program. It is funded through a contract with Medicare and Medicaid. Some participants choose to pay privately for PACE, though they still need to meet all eligibility requirements.
Mountain Empire PACE participants may be fully and personally responsible for costs of any unauthorized and/or out-of-network services.
Mountain Empire PACE services are covered in part or in whole by Medicare and Medicaid. Participants who have both Medicare and Medicaid have no deductibles or co-payments, but may need to pay a set premium each month to stay eligible for Medicaid. Mountain Empire PACE will tell you in advance if you need to pay a premium. If you have Medicare ONLY, you must pay a monthly premium to participate in PACE. If you have NEITHER Medicaid nor Medicare, you must pay our full monthly premium.
Disenrollment
If you want to disenroll from Mountain Empire PACE, you should talk about it with a team member. You may leave us for any reason at any time; however, we need to know either verbally or in writing. If you tell us verbally, you must sign a disenrollment form. When you disenroll from PACE, you may resume benefits in the traditional Medicare and Medicaid programs at the beginning of the following month. You may be involuntarily disenrolled from PACE for certain reasons, such as moving out of the service area or refusing to follow your approved plan of care.
Putting you at the center
With PACE, the focus is YOU. An interdisciplinary team of medical and social care professionals with expertise in multiple areas works closely to ensure comprehensive plans of care for participants. Care is tailored to specific needs with an aim of enabling participants to live safely in their own home as long as safely possible. Services include but are not limited to:
- Medically necessary transportation (wheelchair accessible)
- Hospital care as needed and coordinated by the interdisciplinary team at PACE
- Outpatient medical services: lab work, x-rays and other tests will be scheduled as needed
- Care from medical specialists in cardiology, ophthalmology, dermatology, orthopedics, wound care, surgery, podiatry, audiology and more
- Adult day care
- Rehabilitation and therapy services
- Durable medical equipment
- All necessary prescription medications
- Nutritional services
- Respite services
- Meals
- Personal emergency response as needed
- Personal or home care services
Mountain Empire PACE is contracted with a wide range of providers including specialists, therapists and other medically needed providers who are readily accessible. Through these services, we approach your care or the care of your aging loved ones with individualized needs. Mountain Empire PACE schedules all medical appointments to reduce the scheduling burden on participants and caregivers.
Our program also helps with emotional, social and challenges that older adults may face. We strive to offer activities and services to give a better quality of life to our participants.
Contact Mountain Empire PACE
Physical Address: 1508 Third Avenue East, Big Stone Gap, Virginia
Phone: 276-523-0599
Toll Free: 866-793-7223
TDD/TTY: Dial 711 and ask the operator to call 276-523-0599.
Page Updated: 06/19/2020