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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Chris King |
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King bill would protect seniors from being bumped from PACE/PACENET
HARRISBURG, Feb. 29 – State Rep. Chris King, D-Bucks, recently introduced legislation (H.B. 2274) to ensure that senior citizens enrolled in Pennsylvania's PACE/PACENET programs do not lose their prescription drug coverage due to Social Security cost-of-living adjustments, also known as COLAs.
As of Jan. 1, seniors began receiving a COLA of 2.3 percent in their Social Security benefits. Without a legislative fix, the relatively small increase will bump some seniors just above the income limits for PACE/PACENET, jeopardizing their access to vital prescription drugs.
"My proposal would guarantee that seniors currently enrolled in PACE and PACENET would remain eligible, regardless of whether the Social Security COLA tips their income above eligibility limits for the programs," King said.
King said his proposal is backed by PACE and the Pennsylvania Department of Aging, which confirmed that there is enough funding in the budget to continue to provide benefits to all seniors who are currently enrolled.
King's legislation is currently being considered by the House Aging and Older Adult Services Committee and is expected to come up for a House vote in the near future.
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