Congressman Chris Smith today said St. Francis Medical Center is now approved for the federal PACE—Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly—the first in the State.

“This is a first for New Jersey,” said Smith. “Most seniors are obviously much happier in their own home than facing the prospects of going to a convalescent home. Staying at home can foster independence, greater freedoms, healthy activities and more privacy. Independent at-home living is a good option for many seniors, and St. Francis Medical Center has worked hard to seek out this worthwhile service for older patients.”

The three-way agreement with the N.J. Department of Health and Senior Services and the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is now completed and expected to be activated in April.

Congressmen Smith has been working with officials from St. Francis since 2007 to assist the hospital in joining the federal program that enables nursing home-eligible seniors to obtain all inclusive care, without moving into a nursing home facility. The federal program PACE is funded through Medicare and Medicaid with 72 such centers established throughout the country. Smith voted to create the program in 1997.

The St. Francis program, which is known as LIFE (Living Independently for Elders), is now the first such program available in New Jersey. Using a team of doctors, nurses, physical therapists and other health experts, the LIFE pro­gram will manage all the care of the patient for a set fee paid by Medicare and Medicaid, but also assume the risk, much like an insurance company. Patients will be brought into the center during the week for continuous monitoring. The center will also provide meals and recreation. Most importantly, members of the LIFE team will provide health care at the person’s home, including meals-to-go.

It is expected that over a five-year period, LIFE will care for up to 300 seniors from Mercer County and northern Burlington County who apply for and are accepted into the program. Candidates must meet four main criteria. They must: be age 55 and up; live in the hospital’s service area; require a nursing home level of care, and; be physically able to live safely in their home.

For more information about PACE, visit the National PACE Association’s website at www.npaonline.org or the CMS website at  http://www.cms.hhs.gov/PACE/.