Sarasota Senior AdvisorIs there a PACE program in Sarasota or Manatee County?
Yes: AHCA's August 2026 PACE report lists Stratum PACE as operational for Manatee, Sarasota and DeSoto counties since March 14, 2021, with 150 approved slots and 31 enrollees, all of them Manatee County residents; the report shows no Sarasota County enrollees that month.
That makes PACE a real option mainly for Manatee families today. Sarasota residents in the service area can still ask about enrollment, since the program agreement covers the county.
What does PACE cover?
PACE, the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly, provides all Medicare- and Medicaid-covered services the participant needs, including primary care, a day center, home care, transportation, prescriptions and, when necessary, nursing home care, coordinated by an interdisciplinary team.
Participants must accept the PACE center physician as their primary care doctor, which is the main trade-off for people attached to their current doctors.
Who can enroll in PACE in Florida?
Medicare and Medicaid enrollees can join PACE if they are 55 or older, meet nursing facility level of care, live in the PACE organization's service area, and can be served safely in the community at the time of enrollment.
People who are not Medicaid-eligible may enroll by paying a private premium for the Medicaid portion.
How does PACE compare with Medicaid long-term care plans?
PACE wraps medical care and long-term care into one provider with a day center, while SMMC LTC plans pay for long-term care services and leave most medical care to Medicare and separate plans; PACE is often the better fit for someone with many doctors and a family that can support care at home.
Florida pays PACE organizations a monthly Medicaid capitation rate; the August 2026 report lists Stratum's rate at about $3,529 per member per month.
How do I contact PACE in Sarasota or Manatee?
Ask the Aging and Disability Resource Center for your county (Senior Connection Center for Manatee at 1-800-336-2226, the Area Agency on Aging for Southwest Florida for Sarasota at 1-866-413-5337) to refer you, or ask Florida Medicaid choice counseling at 1-877-711-3662 about PACE in your ZIP code.
Enrollment begins on the first day of a month after an assessment and signed agreement.
At a glance
| PACE is | PACE is not | |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | All Medicare and Medicaid services through one team | Just a day program |
| Eligibility | 55+, nursing facility level of care, in the service area | Limited to Medicaid recipients |
| Local reach | 150 approved slots for three counties | Large: 31 enrollees in August 2026 |
Sources include Chapters 408, 429 and 651 of the Florida Statutes, Fla. Admin. Code chapters 59A-36 and 65A-2, AHCA, DCF, OIR and Elder Affairs pages, CareScout and VA rate tables as cited above; see our editorial standards.
