Dush Backs Bill to Expand Prescription Coverage to More Than 17,000 PA Seniors

HARRISBURG, Pa. — Last week, Rep. Cris Dush (R-Jefferson/Indiana) joined with his House colleagues in unanimously advancing legislation (House Bill 270) which would increase the income eligibility guidelines for the PACENET program, extending prescription drug coverage to more than 17,000 older Pennsylvanians.

“Nearly 300,000 older Pennsylvanians, who should never be forced to choose between life-saving prescriptions, food, electricity or other everyday expenses, rely on PACE and PACENET programs for affordable medications,” said Dush, who serves on the House Aging and Older Adult Services Committee.

“House Bill 270 would allow a significant number of those individuals to maintain their eligibility without interruption caused by an adjustment in their income.”

The PACE and PACENET programs provide low-cost prescription drugs to Pennsylvania seniors age 65 and older. Both programs are funded from proceeds of the Pennsylvania Lottery.

House Bill 270 would increase the annual maximum income limits in the PACENET program to $27,500 for a single person and to $35,500 for a married couple. Current maximum income requirements for the PACENET program, which covers those individuals with incomes exceeding PACE maximums, are $23,500 for a single individual and $31,500 for a married couple annually.

This would be the first increase in the program since 2004.

Additionally, the bill would allow two new pharmacy-based programs to be developed under the PACE program to assist seniors in monitoring their prescription drug usage.

“The work the Common Sense Caucus and members of the House Aging Committee have been doing to ensure the money we receive through the Pennsylvania Lottery is allocated wisely has produced significant savings which can now be used to expand the PACENET program without imposing additional burdens on the Lottery, enrollees or taxpayers,” concluded Dush.

House Bill 270 now moves to the Senate for consideration.