CONTACT: Stephanie Smiley, (608) 266-1683

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES TO HOLD TOWN HALL MEETING IN MADISON 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. The first of several town hall meetings on Virtual PACE will be in Madison on Wednesday, October 12.

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 10 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.

Additional meetings on Virtual PACE are being planned in La Crosse, Milwaukee and Stevens Point and will be announced as details are finalized.

WHERE: Wednesday, October 12, 2011
    2:00 P.M. – 5:00 P.M.

WHEN: Goodman Community Center
149 Waubesa Street
Madison, WI 53704
          Evjue Community Room D

** 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 October 11, 2011.

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Last Revised:  October 06, 2011