Saratoga County approves PACE revenue contract for home-delivered meals, awards senior transportation contract

The Saratoga County Services Committee on March 4 approved a resolution authorizing the chairman to enter a revenue contract with PACE at Hudson Headwaters to reimburse the county for home‑delivered meals provided to eligible managed long‑term care clients, and separately approved a contract with Amazing Grace Transportation to continue senior transportation in several towns beginning April 1.

Director Sandy Cross, who presented both requests to the committee, said the PACE (Program of All‑Inclusive Care for the Elderly) provider will be charged $12 per meal for home‑delivered meals for clients in the PACE program. "We would be able to charge them for the home delivered meals ... at $12 a meal. We currently pay $9.80," Cross said, adding the reimbursement helps the county reinvest in the program.

Cross said PACE is licensed by the New York State Department of Health to offer a menu of services to Medicaid‑eligible long‑term care clients and that the program is intended to be an alternative to nursing home placement. "The intent is the program is to prevent them from going into nursing homes," she said.

Committee discussion clarified how billing will flow: according to Cross, Medicaid contracts with PACE, PACE provides the services, the county will bill PACE for the meals, and PACE in turn bills Medicaid. Cross also said the PACE program typically receives on the order of several thousand dollars per participant per month to cover a range of services.

On senior transportation, Cross said the county opened the contract to bid, received two responses, and that the incumbent provider missed the submission deadline. The committee voted to award the contract to Amazing Grace Transportation to provide rides in the towns of Charlton, Galway, Providence and the Albany‑Saratoga area beginning April 1; Cross noted the current contractor's agreement ends March 31 and the award is intended to avoid a lapse in service.

The committee also approved a set of ceremonial proclamations in unanimous votes. County Clerk Craig Kaner presented a proclamation declaring April 2025 as Donate Life Month, noting increased registration on the donor registry and encouraging residents to check DMV records for the donor symbol. Director Sandy Cross presented a proclamation declaring April 2025 Youth Month and described a school‑break jump‑roping series that will include events in Mechanicville and Wilton and a final competition at Gavin Park in the town of Wilton. Dr. Krolls requested a proclamation declaring March 16–22, 2025, Poison Prevention Week and said county staff will coordinate a March 19 press event with the Upstate Poison Control Center to highlight unintentional poisonings and prevention steps.

Votes at a glance

- Approve minutes of Feb. 4, 2025 meeting — motion approved (unanimous). - Proclaim April 2025 as Donate Life Month — motion approved (unanimous). - Proclaim April 2025 as Youth Month in Saratoga County — motion approved (unanimous). - Authorize chairman to enter revenue contract with PACE at Hudson Headwaters for reimbursement of home‑delivered meals (county to bill PACE $12/meal; county current cost per meal $9.80) — motion approved (unanimous). - Authorize chairman to enter contract with Amazing Grace Transportation to provide senior transportation in Charlton, Galway, Providence and portions of Saratoga beginning April 1 — motion approved (unanimous). - Proclaim March 16–22, 2025 Poison Prevention Week — motion approved (unanimous).

The committee adjourned after routine business. Several presenters emphasized continuity of services for older residents and public outreach components tied to the proclamations; no dissenting votes or amendments to the presented resolutions were recorded in the committee record.