Variations on a theme called PACE.

BACKGROUND The Program for All-inclusive Care of the Elderly (PACE) has been hailed as successful but of limited appeal. This study contrasts the effects on hospital utilization of PACE and a more liberal variant, the Wisconsin Partnership Program (WPP). METHODS Hospital and emergency room (ER) utilization data from two sites that used both PACE and WPP to serve elderly clients were compared. The analysis of utilization was conducted using a cross-sectional longitudinal approach. The statistical significance of the difference between WPP and PACE groups was calculated by using regressions that adjusted for gender, race (white/nonwhite), age, original reason for entitlement in Medicare (elderly/disabled), dual eligibility, diagnoses during the previous 6 months, and county of residence. RESULTS The PACE enrollees had fewer hospital admissions, preventable hospital admissions, hospital days, ER visits, and preventable ER visits than the WPP enrollees had. There was no difference in the length of hospital stays. CONCLUSIONS PACE is more effective in controlling hospital and ER utilization than is the more flexible variant (WPP).