CONTACT: Stephanie Smiley, (608) 266-1683

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES TO HOLD TOWN HALL MEETING IN MILWAUKEE ON VIRTUAL PACE PROGRAM

MADISON—The Department of Health Services is seeking input from consumers, community partners, integrated health systems, and providers on the Virtual PACE program. This is the fourth of several town hall meetings on Virtual PACE and will be in Milwaukee on December 1, 2011.

In Wisconsin, approximately 120,000 Medicaid enrollees are also enrolled in Medicare and are known as “dual eligible” members. Currently, the members must navigate a fragmented health care system that limits coordination among health providers and increases costs. The Department is developing a new program, Virtual PACE, a coordinated care system, for Wisconsin’s dual eligibles who are eligible for long term care services and who wish to receive their services in community settings. This will be accomplished by fully integrating Medicare and Medicaid services and funds.

The current separation of Medicare and Medicaid payment for services and the lack of access to coordinated care create administrative barriers to the promise of full integration into a community setting, which prevents the best possible member outcomes. The Department’s summary of the Virtual PACE demonstration proposal and the grant proposal is available at www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/wipartnership/pace/.

Individuals who are interested in speaking will have up to five minutes to share their ideas at this forum. Those who would like to share their ideas and do not wish to speak are encouraged to submit their written feedback at the meeting or through our online survey at www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/wipartnership/pace/.

** People needing special accommodations to attend or participate in the meeting should notify the Department of Health Services at 608-266-9622 (TTY 888-701-1250) on or before November 30, 2011.

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Last Revised:  November 18, 2011