Florida-based senior care provider Empath Health is blazing a trail forward in value-based care programs.

The nonprofit’s three-year strategic plan is heavily focused on working with risk- and value-based payers, leveraging its diversified suite of services, according to President and CEO Jonathan Fleece. Empath refers to its continuum of care, much of which is home-based, as its “Full-Life Care Model.”

“We’re generally looking at it from a three-year perspective; 2026 will definitely be a year for growing this payor space, this value-based care space,” Fleece told Hospice News’ sister site Home Health Care News. “That’s our key priority for where we’ll see most of our growth.”

Empath Health is the parent company of 17 affiliates and four philanthropic foundations. The organization provides care to more than 81,000 patients annually. In addition to PACE, the nonprofit’s Full Life Care model includes hospice, home health care, palliative care, bereavement, adult day and primary care services, advance care planning, HIV and sexual health services, and pharmacy and medical equipment assistance.

Empath now serves 1 in 5 hospice patients in its home state, the company reported. All told, the organization cares for 5,000 patients daily and employs more than 5,000 staff and 3,000 volunteers.

As part of Empath’s value-based care journey, it is evolving into a “payvider,” Fleece said. In January 2026, Empath opens its Medicare Advantage organization in Florida with American Health Plans (AHP), a division of American Health Partners. The JV offers Institutional Special Needs Plans (ISNP) across the state, supported by TruHealth, a frail elderly medical services provider.  

“We are excited to bring better valued based care models to Floridians,” Fleece said.

ISNPs are Medicare Advantage plans that are designed to serve beneficiaries who live in skilled nursing facilities. Through the Empath partnership, members of AHP’s American Health Advantage of Florida ISNP will receive interdisciplinary services from TruHealth of Florida, the clinical arm of the ISNP.

A second initiative is further scaling of the organization’s PACE program — branded as Empath LIFE (Living Independence for the Elderly). The program is designed to help adults aged 55 and older remain safely in their homes and communities rather than transitioning to nursing homes. The program includes a comprehensive suite of services, including medical care, therapies, transportation, medication management and day center activities.

PACE programs like Empath LIFE are primarily reimbursed through capitated payments from Medicare and Medicaid. After a participant is enrolled, they agree to receive all of their covered care exclusively through the PACE provider, which in turn receives a fixed monthly payment per member. If a participant doesn’t qualify for Medicaid, they may pay a monthly premium.

“We’re scaling PACE. So that’s a payvider model, because that’s a total-cost-of-care model. We have funding to go to 1,000 PACE participants, which is not an inconsequential number; because with PACE, they’re all frail, elderly, very needy patients,” Fleece said. “That’s a very high-risk population. We have PACE today. We’re guns-a-blazing to continue to grow that program.”

Empath has also grown outside of Florida, including being a founding member of a national frail elderly MSSP ACO, called Responsive Care Solutions, and a founder of a national PACE Management Services Company and PACE Pharmacy joint venture, supporting other PACE programs across the country.

“In 2026 and beyond, Empath Health will continue to focus on a value-based care kind of growth trajectory,” Fleece said. “That’s the future of health care and we intend to be a market leader in improving health outcomes for reduced cost. That’s the tremendous opportunity that home based care organizations can deliver.”