Oct. 27, 2021
HARRISBURG—Legislation sponsored by Rep. Wendi Thomas (R-Bucks) to reform the state’s PACENET program has passed the House.
“The General Assembly passes bills each year to allow seniors to stay enrolled if the COLA they received from Social Security is the only increase in their income,” Thomas said. “This has caused a disparity in income levels between those already in the program and those signing up for the first time. This bill is an opportunity to fix this issue.”
House Bill 1260 would expand the PACENET program, which provides life-sustaining medications to more than 300,000 older Pennsylvanians, by raising income eligibility limits to $33,500 for single individuals and $41,500 for married couples. The current PACENET eligibility requirement is $27,500 for single individuals and $35,500 for
married couples.
The bill also would eliminate the requirement for PACENET cardholders not enrolled in Medicare Part D to pay a monthly benchmark premium. Instead, the bill would require the program pay this monthly premium.
The legislation also would require the Pharmaceutical Advisory Board that advises on any future development and modernization of the program to ensure assistance provided is completed in a fiscally responsible manner.
The legislation grants the Department of Aging the discretion to enroll eligible individuals into
Medicare Part D Plans so long as it meets the needs and pharmacy preferences of the cardholder.
The bill now moves to the Senate for a vote.
Representative Wendi Thomas
178th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: David Foster
267-207-0207
dfoster@pahousegop.com
RepThomas.com /
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