A unique aspect of the PACE model is that an organization becomes a payer as well as a provider.  However, most of the staff are used to being providers only.  The staff needs to be trained on the dual role of managing care and cost and how to find the best allocation of resources for a given patient’s care.

Since LIFE is a health plan, they face a need to grow membership in order to remain financially solvent and be in a position to reinvest in the program.  Having a strong marketing and community outreach plan and staff is critical to making a PACE program work.

The information needs of running an at-risk health plan serving Medicare/Medicaid patients are large, and tracking the information electronically can help run the business more smoothly.

As a PACE program, LIFE has the opportunity to collaborate with other PACE programs throughout the state of Pennsylvania and the nation.  Typically, each state will franchise PACE programs so that there is only one PACE site per area; so PACE sites do not compete on territory.  This fact enables PACE programs to share ideas and provide assistance to each other.