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Cherokee Elder Care outlines PACE services, service area and enrollment; council seeks expansion details
Summary
Cherokee Elder Care staff presented the organization’s services — primary care, transportation, home care, rehabilitation and adult day services — described its PACE structure and tribal sponsorship, and answered council questions about service area, eligibility, transportation and growth plans.
Janet Meredith and colleagues from Cherokee Elder Care presented an overview of the program to the Cherokee Nation Tribal Council, describing services, service area, enrollment and the program’s tribal sponsorship.
Meredith introduced Brian Maloney (intake marketing manager) and Ashley Echols (CFO and interim CEO). A Cherokee Elder Care outreach speaker said the program is ‘‘an all inclusive health care’’ designed to keep older adults in their homes and communities. Staff described services including primary care, transportation, home care, medication and medical supplies, behavioral health, social services, in-house rehabilitation (physical, occupational, speech therapy and assistants) and an adult day center that provides meals and activities.
The presenters said Cherokee Elder Care serves seven counties (Adair, Cherokee, Sequoyah, Mayes, Delaware, Muskogee and Wagoner) and about 32 ZIP codes. The program began in February 2008 and, presenters said, was the first PACE program in the state and the only tribally linked PACE in the nation. Meredith said about 85% of participants are Cherokee Nation citizens.
Councilors asked detailed questions about eligibility, enrollment, funding and transportation. Presenters said the program accepts Medicare and Medicaid, dual-eligibles and private pay options and that program expansion into additional ZIP codes requires Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) approval and an application process. Presenters said Cherokee Elder Care can provide transportation to specialty appointments and to the day center, and that in some cases they contract with Cherokee Nation outreach home health and hospice for in-home services.
Councilors expressed support for outreach into northern reservation areas and asked for the program application and contact information; staff agreed to provide materials to the council. Several councilors shared personal positive experiences with the program’s transitions to hospice and in-person outreach at community nutrition centers.
No formal action was taken; councilors asked staff to follow up with written materials and to consider expansion options that would require CMS approval.
