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Vance Introduces Bill to Integrate PACE/PACENET Program &
Medicare Part D
HARRISBURG -- Legislation
that would update Pennsylvania's prescription drug assistance program to work
with the federal Medicare prescription drug program was introduced today by Sen.
Pat Vance (R-Cumberland/York).
Senate Bill 1188 would
restructure PACE and PACENET so that they work seamlessly with the federal
Medicare prescription drug program.
"For more than 20 years
Pennsylvania has been a leader in ensuring low-income seniors have prescription
drug coverage," Vance said. "This legislation ensures the same important
benefits PACE/PACENET recipients have come to know will continue for years to
come in conjunction with the new federal plan. The two benefits will fit
together like a hand in a glove."
Vance's legislation will:
-
authorize the
Commonwealth to assist PACE/PACENET recipients in signing up for the most
appropriate Medicare prescription drug plan;
-
assist PACE/PACENET
recipients in identifying if they are eligible for the Medicare low income
subsidy;
-
pay Part D premiums for
PACE enrollees;
-
eliminate the PACENET
deductible;
-
provide coverage for
Part D copayments in excess of the current PACE/PACENET amount;
-
create real-time online
coordination of benefits between PACE and appropriate Medicare plans so
enrollees in PACE/PACENET and Medicare continue to fill their prescriptions
at pharmacies without additional cost, delay or paperwork;
-
shift to the federal
program some costs that have typically been incurred by the state program.
"It's important that
officials with the federal government and Pennsylvania prescription drug
programs work together to blend the two programs to prevent confusion for the
Commonwealth's seniors," Vance said. "They should not have to choose between
prescription drugs and food and shelter."
The chair of the Aging and
Youth Committee, Sen. Jane C. Orie (R-McCandless), said that she will begin work
immediately to prepare the bill for consideration by the Committee.
"Pennsylvania has led the
nation for years in its provision of prescription drug benefits for seniors,"
Orie said. "This legislation promises to continue that tradition as it is
designed to coordinate benefits between the federal and state programs to allow
seniors to enjoy receiving benefits as effortlessly as they have since PACE's
inception."
"Since many senior citizens
have questions about the benefits that they are eligible to receive, I made this
an important part of my recent senior citizen expos," said Sen. Pat Browne
(R-Lehigh), a strong supporter of Vance's legislation. "I believe this
legislation will not only benefit the Commonwealth by meshing these two
important prescription drug programs, but will also reduce the level of
confusion that is out there and thereby provide peace of mind to our older
residents."
Vance has been a leader in
the General Assembly to expand and maintain prescription drug benefits for
Pennsylvania's low-income seniors. In 2003 legislation she authored in the
House expanded coverage to allow an additional 100,000 Pennsylvanians to be
eligible for prescription drug coverage. In 2001, she led a successful effort
to use a portion of the state's national tobacco settlement money to increase
the income eligibility limits for the PACENET program by $1,000, extending
program eligibility to thousands more seniors. Finally, back in 1995, she was a
member of a group of House Republicans who guided the effort to increase income
eligibility limits for the PACE program and create the PACENET program to
provide access to benefits for middle-income seniors.
Vance's district includes
all of Cumberland County and Carroll, Fairview, Franklin, Monaghan, Warrington
and Washington townships and Dillsburg, Franklintown and Wellsville boroughs in
York County.
 Vance
Orie
Brown
Senate Bill
1188 Text & Summary (PDF file)
At an April 4 news conference, Sen.
Patricia Vance (R-31), right, introduces legislation that would
update Pennsylvania's prescription drug assistance
program to work with the federal Medicare prescription drug program.
Also speaking were
Sen. Pat Browne (R-16), left, and Sen. Jane Orie (R-40), center.
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