Fallon Health Weinberg expands access to its PACE program into Niagara County
Expansion supports growing demand for options that promote aging in place
Amherst, New York, May 9, 2023 – Fallon Health Weinberg today announced it is expanding access to its innovative Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) to Niagara County. The expansion of PACE aligns with the organization’s unique commitment to older adults and family caregivers and supports the growing demand for options that promote aging in place. In Niagara County, Fallon Health Weinberg’s analysis shows approximately 1,000 individuals are eligible for PACE.
Fallon Health Weinberg currently serves approximately 150 PACE participants in Erie County with a center in Amherst. The program, known locally as Fallon Health Weinberg-PACE (FHW-PACE), is a proven solution that provides complete care for independent living and simultaneously supports family caregivers.
“Although new to Niagara County, Fallon Health has been a leader in offering PACE for almost 30 years and has been providing health care solutions for older adults for more than 45 years,” said Kristine Bostek, Senior Vice President of PACE programs for Fallon Health, the majority member of the non-profit organization Fallon Health Weinberg. “Providing participants and their caregivers with exceptional care and coverage is a great privilege, and we are thrilled to be able to offer our experienced program to even more people in New York.”
The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated the effectiveness of the PACE model in caring for older adults. According to data from the National PACE Association, the rates of COVID-19 infection and death among PACE participants have been just one-third of those for nursing home residents.
“Older adults should receive care in an environment that best fits their needs and health care goals,” said Arunan Thurairajah, M.D., Medical Director for Fallon Health Weinberg. “Models of care, like PACE, that combine medical care with health insurance and social support in one comprehensive program are a shining example of how patient-centered care with wrap-around services are more relevant than ever.”
Fallon Health, a nationally recognized not-for-profit health care services organization, is the largest PACE provider in New England and among the top 10 in the country. In addition to Fallon Health Weinberg-PACE, the organization also operates Summit ElderCare in Massachusetts.
To learn more about Fallon Health Weinberg-PACE, please visit: fallonweinberg.org/Plans/PACE.
Melissa Randall
Director, Corporate Communications
Fallon Health
508-368-9345
melissa.randall@fallonhealth.org
About Fallon Health Weinberg
Fallon Health Weinberg is a partnership between Fallon Health and the Weinberg Campus of Erie County, New York. Fallon Health Weinberg offers a Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) and a Managed Long-Term Care (MLTC) plan to serve the health needs of dual-eligible residents in the Western New York counties of Erie and Niagara. Fallon Health Weinberg expands the choices that residents of Erie and Niagara Counties have when it comes to high-quality, affordable health care. Learn more at fallonweinberg.org.
About Fallon Health
Fallon Health is a company that cares. We prioritize our members—always—making sure they get the care they need and deserve. Founded in 1977 in Worcester, Massachusetts, Fallon delivers equitable, high-quality coordinated care and is continually rated among the nation’s top health plans for member experience, service, and clinical quality. Today, guided by our mission of improving health and inspiring hope, we strive to be the leading provider of government-sponsored health insurance programs—including Medicare, Medicaid, and PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly)— in the region.
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