TL;DR
Get health and wellness essentials delivered free with Prime
- Fast, free delivery on millions of items
- Prime Video, Amazon Music and more included
- Member-only deals all year
U.S. Reps. Debbie Dingell and John Moolenaar introduced the PACE Access Improvement Act on Sept. 24, 2026. The bill would require every state to offer PACE, start coverage when an eligible person signs enrollment paperwork, and ease barriers to opening or expanding centers. It has not become law; a Senate companion was expected in November, according to the National PACE Association.
U.S. Reps. Debbie Dingell and John Moolenaar introduced the bipartisan PACE Access Improvement Act on Sept. 24, proposing changes that could make home- and community-based care available to more older adults. The bill would require every state to offer the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), make coverage effective when enrollment paperwork is signed, and ease barriers to opening or expanding centers. It remains a proposal, not current law.
PACE is a joint Medicare and Medicaid program that coordinates medical and social services for adults who need nursing-home-level care but can live safely in the community with support. To qualify, a person must be at least 55, live in a PACE organization’s service area, receive state certification of nursing-home-level care needs, and be able to live safely in the community with PACE services.
Under current rules described by Home Health Care News, eligible people can sign up at any point in the month, but their coverage generally begins on the first day of the following month after the organization receives the signed agreement. The bill would instead make coverage effective on the day the provider signs the enrollment paperwork, potentially reducing the wait after sign-up.
The proposal would also make PACE a mandatory Medicaid benefit, requiring every state to have a program. At present, 33 states offer PACE, according to the source report. The legislation also seeks to reduce obstacles to opening and expanding centers, though the report does not provide a detailed list of the proposed changes to center rules.
Faster Enrollment and Wider Reach
The proposed changes address two practical limits on access: where PACE is available and how quickly coverage starts after a person enrolls. Requiring programs in all states could extend the model beyond the 33 states that currently offer it, while same-day coverage would shorten the gap between signing up and receiving benefits. Actual access would still depend on local service areas, eligibility, provider capacity and implementation.
Industry leaders argue that expanding PACE could give more older adults coordinated support at home rather than relying on more costly care settings. InnovAge CEO Patrick Blair told Home Health Care News that earlier intervention through coordinated, preventive care could help seniors maintain independence and potentially avoid costlier settings. That is an industry assessment of possible effects; the bill itself does not establish what outcomes or savings would result.
For home-based care organizations, the center provisions could affect how they plan expansion and reach prospective participants. Stephanie Winslow, executive director of the PACE Association of Michigan, said current restrictions limit marketing before a center opens. Earlier outreach, if allowed under the bill, could give residents more time to learn about services and consider enrollment before a new site begins operating.
Products Worth Considering
Levoit Eleva 300X HEPA Air Purifier for Home and Bedroom
Garmin Forerunner 570 GPS Running Smartwatch, 47mm, Aluminum, Black
BowFlex Results Series SelectTech Adjustable Dumbbells (Pair)
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
How PACE Access Works Today
PACE combines Medicare and Medicaid funding with coordinated services for eligible older adults who need a level of care associated with a nursing home but can remain in the community safely with assistance. A PACE organization delivers care within a defined service area, so a person’s residence is one of the eligibility conditions. A nationwide requirement would not by itself mean every community has a nearby center.
The bill’s introduction is the current legislative development; it does not change enrollment or state requirements on its own. The source report said the National PACE Association expected U.S. Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia to introduce a Senate companion in November. That was an anticipated next step, not a confirmed enactment or a guarantee of progress through Congress.
““Allowing seniors to enroll when they need care, rather than waiting until the beginning of the following month, removing unnecessary barriers to opening and expanding centers and making PACE available in every state would meaningfully improve access.””
— Patrick Blair, CEO of InnovAge
What the Bill Leaves Open
The proposal’s legislative prospects and final text remain unsettled. The source report described a Senate companion as expected in November, but did not establish whether it was subsequently introduced or whether either chamber had advanced the measure. The bill’s introduction alone does not mean the provisions have taken effect.
The report also does not spell out the precise changes intended to ease center openings, how a nationwide Medicaid requirement would be implemented, or what funding and administrative responsibilities states would face. Nor does it quantify how many additional people could enroll, how quickly new centers might open, or whether the proposed changes would produce savings or improved health outcomes.
Senate Action and State Implementation
The next reported legislative milestone was a Senate companion bill expected from Sen. Mark Warner in November, according to the National PACE Association. Further action would depend on the bill’s introduction and consideration in Congress; no passage date or final outcome is established by the source material.
If enacted, the law’s effect would depend on its final provisions and subsequent federal and state implementation. Readers should watch for the Senate bill, congressional action, and details about how states and PACE organizations would meet any new requirements. Until then, current eligibility and coverage rules remain in place.
Key Questions
What is the PACE Access Improvement Act?
It is a bipartisan bill introduced by Reps. Debbie Dingell and John Moolenaar on Sept. 24, 2026. It proposes requiring PACE in every state, changing when coverage begins after enrollment, and easing barriers to opening or expanding centers.
Would the bill make PACE available in every state immediately?
No. The bill is a proposal and has not become law. If enacted, its requirements would still need to be implemented; the source material does not give a timeline.
Who can qualify for PACE?
Eligibility described in the report includes being at least 55, living in a PACE service area, having state certification of nursing-home-level care needs, and being able to live safely in the community with PACE support.
When would coverage begin under the proposed change?
The bill would make coverage effective on the day the provider signs the enrollment paperwork. Under the current rule described in the report, coverage generally begins on the first day of the following month after the organization receives the signed agreement.
What happens next for the legislation?
The National PACE Association said a Senate companion from Sen. Mark Warner was expected in November. The source does not confirm its subsequent status or predict whether Congress will pass the bill.
Source: homehealthcarenews.com
