The Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) is an NC Medicaid program (not a 1915(c) waiver) for adults 55+ who need nursing-home-level care but want to remain in the community, and it accepts Medicare, Medicaid, dual-eligible, private-pay, and 'PACE Medicaid' participants. As of NC Medicaid's most recent published information, there are 11 PACE organizations operating in 14 locations statewide, and Senior CommUnity Care of North Carolina is a PACE provider based in the Durham/Triangle area, though families should confirm current Triangle service areas directly through NC Medicaid's PACE contact list before assuming coverage in a specific city.
The detail behind the program
PACE is a distinctive program because it wraps medical care, adult day services, transportation, therapy, and more into a single coordinated program designed to keep a nursing-home-eligible senior living at home rather than in a facility — and unlike CAP/DA, it isn't a 1915(c) waiver but its own separate NC Medicaid program with a broader eligibility structure that includes private-pay and Medicare-only participants. Durham's position as a major Triangle health hub, anchored by Duke University Hospital and Duke Regional Hospital, aligns with third-party reports that a PACE provider (Senior CommUnity Care of North Carolina) operates in the area, but exact service boundaries for PACE programs are typically defined by specific ZIP codes or counties. Families in Durham, Raleigh, or Chapel Hill interested in PACE should contact NC Medicaid's PACE program directly to confirm whether their specific address falls within an active PACE service area.
Related questions
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