The PACE Playbook

In this episode of The PACE Playbook Podcast, Dr. Ankur Patel sits down with Shawn Bloom, President and CEO of the National PACE Association, to examine where PACE stands today and where it is heading.

They discuss PACE's growth toward 100,000 participants, the role states play in expanding access, why PACE can reduce reliance on more expensive institutional care, and how Medicaid funding changes may affect programs. Shawn also shares insights on FQHC and health-system sponsorship, supportive housing, caregiver burden, workforce development, the PACE Access Improvement Act, and the leadership practices that distinguish high-performing organizations.

The conversation closes with Shawn's essential play for every PACE leader: understand where your organization is different, where it is better, and communicate that story clearly.

The PACE Playbook Podcast is proudly sponsored by our exclusive founding sponsor,  ChorusRx, partnering with PACE organizations to improve patient outcomes, reduce medical costs, and streamline pharmacy workflows.

Shawn Bloom is the President and CEO of the National PACE Association (NPA). He has spent decades advancing the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly, supporting state and federal policy development, and expanding access to coordinated, community-based care for older adults.

National PACE Association

In the first episode of The PACE Playbook, Dr. Ankur Patel shares the personal and professional journey that led him to the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly. He reflects on studying pharmacy in India, becoming an accidental doctor, choosing family medicine and geriatrics, and discovering a model of care that addresses both medical needs and the realities of daily life.

Ankur also introduces Patel’s Three Ps: polypharmacy, POLST and goals of care, and preventive care. He explains how these principles help PACE teams reduce avoidable hospital visits, improve communication, and deliver care that treats every participant with the dignity we would want for our own family.

The PACE Playbook features practical conversations with the leaders and professionals shaping PACE. Presented by founding sponsor ChorusRx.