The Department of Health Services (DHS) is requesting comments on a plan to develop a coordinated system of care for people on both Medicaid and Medicare. DHS calls it the Virtual PACE program. There are two opportunities to provide input: submitting comments through the DHS website or by attending a town hall meeting at the Wisconsin State Fair Park in Milwaukee on Thursday, December 1.

Virtual PACE is a program for people of all ages in both Medicaid and Medicare. These individuals are known as “dual eligibles.” The program will bring together all health services – including acute and primary care, hospitalization, behavioral health, and long-term care services – in a coordinated manner. DHS believes this coordination will remove barriers to care while reducing costs.

The design of the program is still under development, though some features have been proposed. DHS is considering automatic enrollment in the program. Automatic enrollment could mean that people who decided to enroll in Family Care, Partnership, or IRIS could have that decision overruled. They could be told they are now involuntarily enrolled in Virtual PACE for six months before they have the option to drop out. It is not known if people can keep the same doctors or support staff. Individuals who want to provide input at the town hall meeting could also ask for more clarification about the unknown issues.

For more information and to submit written comments, go to www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/wipartnership/pace/

The public town hall meeting is:

Thursday, December 1
1:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Tommy G. Thompson Youth Center
Wisconsin State Fair Park
640 South 84th Street
West Allis

People needing special accommodations to attend or participate in the meeting should call DHS at 608-266-9622 (voice) or 888-701-1250 (TTY) on or before November 30.