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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Chris King |
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Committee approves King bill to continue Rx coverage for seniors
HARRISBURG, April 1 – Legislation introduced by state Rep. Chris King, D-Bucks, to ensure that senior citizens enrolled in Pennsylvania's PACE and PACENET programs do not lose their prescription drug coverage due to Social Security cost-of-living adjustments, also known as COLAs, was voted unanimously out of the House Aging and Older Adult Services Committee today.
As of Jan. 1, seniors began receiving a 2.3 percent COLA in their Social Security benefits. King said that without a legislative fix, the relatively small increase would bump some seniors just above the income limits for PACE/PACENET, jeopardizing their access to vital prescription drugs.
King's proposal (H.B. 2345) 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.
"Many Pennsylvania seniors rely on PACE and PACENET for prescription drugs that are necessary to their quality of life," King said. "This legislation will allow those residents affected by the Social Security COLA to continue to receive those vital services."
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.
The legislation is expected to come up for a House vote in the near future.
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