Despite Gov. Ron DeSantis’ veto of nearly $4 million that would have expanded the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) in Pinellas County, local leaders say seniors won’t see an interruption in care.
Among the governor’s line-item vetoes in Florida’s new budget was $3,939,123 earmarked to create 250 additional PACE enrollment slots in Pinellas County. While the funding appeared to signal a significant expansion of services for older adults, Dr. Nicholas Joseph, senior vice president of the Complete Care Division at Empath Life, said the veto will not affect the organization’s ability to serve seniors; in fact, they have more capacity.
“The veto of those slots has zero impact because we are able to manage the 250 that were vetoed,” Joseph said. “There will be no impact to our Pinellas County seniors. We have a lot of space to add more people.”
The reassurance comes as Florida continues to grapple with the needs of one of the nation’s oldest populations. Pinellas County is home to one of the state’s largest concentrations of seniors, making access to long-term healthcare services an ongoing priority.
Formerly known as Suncoast PACE, the organization is currently rebranding to Empath Life, a transition that will continue over the coming months. The program serves eligible seniors throughout Pinellas, Hillsborough and Manatee counties using a model of care that allows participants to remain in their homes while receiving comprehensive medical and supportive services.
PACE, which stands for Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly, is a Medicare and Medicaid program designed for adults age 55 and older who qualify for nursing home-level care but can safely continue living in the community. Instead of relying on multiple providers, participants receive coordinated care through one interdisciplinary team that can include physicians, nurses, therapists, social workers, pharmacists and other specialists.
Services extend well beyond routine doctor’s appointments. Participants receive primary and specialty medical care, prescription medications, rehabilitation services, transportation to appointments, home health services, adult day health care and other supports tailored to their individual needs.
Joseph believes that team-based approach is what distinguishes PACE from traditional healthcare.
“The beauty of PACE is it’s a level of concierge care,” he said. “What they receive is solely based on their needs and goals.”
Unlike many healthcare programs that struggle with long waitlists, Joseph said Empath Life currently has capacity to serve more seniors in Pinellas County.
Enrollment is still subject to approval through the state, a process that generally takes about 60 days to determine eligibility. But once approved, participants gain access to a coordinated system of care that often helps them avoid repeated hospital visits and delays or eliminates the need for assisted living or nursing home placement.
“You can stay at home instead of going to assisted living, and we give you everything medically necessary to age in your home without having to move,” Joseph said. “If you are just scraping by, that’s not a way to live for someone at that age.”
Joseph said he has spent his career working to expand PACE because of the difference it makes in patients’ lives. He also credited the state for increasing its support of the program over the past decade, despite this year’s veto of the Pinellas expansion funding.
“The state has been very supportive of PACE and funded slots significantly,” he said. “It’s much better now than it was 10 years ago. I can’t wait to see how much we can expand.”
Beyond improving quality of life, Joseph said the model also reduces costly hospitalizations.
Many participants enter the program after frequent trips to emergency rooms or repeated hospital admissions because chronic health conditions are not being effectively managed. Under PACE’s coordinated approach, those numbers often decline dramatically.
“Many patients who have to visit the hospital numerous times monthly only have to go once or twice a year under PACE,” Joseph said.
While the governor’s veto eliminated funding for an additional 250 authorized enrollment slots, Joseph emphasized that Empath Life’s current capacity means the decision will not reduce services or prevent eligible seniors from receiving care today.
For families navigating the challenges of aging loved ones, he hopes the takeaway is simple: comprehensive care remains available.
“The veto of those slots has zero impact,” Joseph said. “There will be no impact to our Pinellas County seniors.”
Although the budget decision removed funding intended for future expansion, Empath Life continues to enroll eligible participants and sees room for future growth. For Joseph, the organization’s mission remains unchanged — helping older adults age safely, independently and with dignity in the place most want to be: home.