At the NPA Spring Policy Forum in Washington, DC, one thing was clear: PACE is entering a new phase. Growth is accelerating; expansion conversations are happening across states, and long-standing barriers are starting to shift.
But this moment isn’t just about validation. It’s about what comes next. As policy momentum builds, the focus is shifting from expansion alone to how organizations operationalize that growth.
In a conversation captured during the Forum, IntusCare leaders Evan Jackson, Co-Founder & Chief Revenue Officer, and Laura Ferrara, Chief Population Health Officer, reflected on what this shift means for operators.
The takeaway is clear: the next phase of PACE will be defined not by growth alone, but by how responsibly organizations scale.
Growth is no longer the constraint. Execution is.
“Without strong quality care, there is no growth.”
Growth was once the biggest challenge in PACE. Now the constraint is how well organizations execute as they scale.
As expansion accelerates, the constraint is shifting from whether organizations can grow to how well they execute while doing so. With increased visibility comes increased scrutiny across outcomes, compliance, and care delivery.
The implication is clear. Growth strategies must be matched with strong operational and quality infrastructure. Treating them separately will not work.
It’s time to “cut the anchors”
“There are things that drag [PACE] down. It’s time to cut the anchors.”
PACE is a strong model, but it carries legacy processes that no longer serve it. This is an inflection point. Operators need to decide what is essential and what is simply habit.
The organizations best positioned for the next phase will challenge assumptions, reduce administrative burden, and redesign workflows intentionally. Scaling responsibly removes friction, not just adds capacity.
“Innovation happens at the speed of trust.”
Technology, especially AI, is gaining traction. But adoption will not be driven by hype.
In a care model where outcomes matter deeply, partial solutions are not enough. Tools must work end to end and earn trust across teams.
For operators, that means prioritizing solutions that fully integrate into workflows and reliably reduce burden.
A more connected, holistic approach
“Thinking holistically about the stack.”
Organizations are rethinking how their technology and partners work together. Instead of evaluating tools individually, leading operators ask: how does everything connect?
The opportunity is to move from disconnected solutions to intentionally designed systems. Systems where data flows, partners align, and decisions are made with the full picture in mind.
“That’s the difference between a vendor and a partner.”
Partners now directly influence outcomes. Leading operators evaluate alignment, integration, and impact.
As organizations scale, execution depends on the strength of their partners. This is no longer just about service delivery. It is about alignment and outcomes.
Operators should ask:
- Do they understand PACE?
- Can they work across our ecosystem?
- Are they helping us operate better?
In this phase, partners directly impact performance.
A Defining Moment for the Model
PACE is at an inflection point.
The opportunity to expand access and impact is real. But the organizations that define this next chapter will not be the ones that grow fastest. They will be the ones that scale with intention.
That means:
- Building quality into growth
- Letting go of outdated processes
- Adopting technology thoughtfully
- Choosing the right partners
At IntusCare, we’re seeing this shift play out across programs nationwide. The organizations rethinking how they operate and scale are the ones best positioned to lead what comes next for PACE.
👉 Read some of our other reflections from the 2026 NPA Spring Policy Forum
