Baton Rouge Senior AdvisorWhat is PACE Baton Rouge?
PACE Baton Rouge is the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly serving East Baton Rouge and West Baton Rouge parishes, run from a center at 7436 Bishop Ott Dr. (225-490-0604), which provides and coordinates all of a participant's Medicare and Medicaid care through one team.
LDH lists PACE providers in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Lafayette and Alexandria. In the Baton Rouge region only residents of East and West Baton Rouge parishes can enroll, which leaves Ascension, Livingston and the rural parishes to rely on the Community Choices Waiver and LT-PCS.
Who qualifies for PACE in Baton Rouge?
People 55 or older who meet nursing facility level of care, live in the program's service area of East Baton Rouge Parish and West Baton Rouge Parish (LDH OAAS PACE page), and can live safely in the community when they enroll.
Many participants live with family; PACE gives the family a day center, transportation, a doctor and nurses who know the participant, and help at home. LDH also licenses PACE Baton Rouge as an adult day health care center.
What does PACE cost?
A participant who qualifies for Medicaid pays nothing for PACE services; a Medicare-only participant pays the share of the monthly rate that Medicare does not cover, and people may also pay privately.
Once enrolled, the PACE team becomes the participant's medical provider, so outside doctors are used only when the team arranges it. Ask how that would affect a parent's current specialists.
What services does PACE include?
Primary care, nursing, therapies, prescription drugs, adult day center attendance, transportation, home care, hospital and specialist care, and nursing home care if it becomes necessary, all arranged by the PACE team.
The day center is the heart of the program, with meals, activities and clinic visits in one place. For a Baton Rouge caregiver who works days, that structure can be the difference between keeping a parent at home and a nursing home admission.
How do we apply for PACE Baton Rouge?
Call PACE Baton Rouge at 225-490-0604, or Louisiana Options in Long-Term Care at 1-877-456-1146, and the program will check the address, level of care and Medicaid status.
If your parent lives in Ascension or Livingston Parish, PACE is not available there; ask about the Community Choices Waiver, LT-PCS and the ADHC Waiver instead.
Side by side
| PACE Baton Rouge is | PACE Baton Rouge is not | |
|---|---|---|
| Area | East Baton Rouge and West Baton Rouge parishes | Available in Ascension or Livingston |
| Care | All Medicare and Medicaid services through one team | An add-on to existing doctors |
| Cost | Free for Medicaid-eligible participants | Free for Medicare-only participants |
| Setting | Home plus a day center | A residential facility |
Sources: LAC 48:I.Chapter 68 for adult residential care, Louisiana Department of Health (Health Standards Section and Office of Aging and Adult Services) program pages, the Governor's Office of Elderly Affairs, CareScout and VA rate tables, each cited in the text. Our editorial standards explain how we check them.
