Gov. Tom Wolf Tuesday signed House Bill 270, now Act 87 of 2018, to expand the PACENET Prescription Drug Coverage Program to 17,000 more seniors.
“Ensuring that older Pennsylvanians have access to necessary health care services, including prescription drugs, is a priority of my administration,” said Gov. Wolf. “This income eligibility increase was long overdue and will go a long way in helping thousands of seniors access their prescription medications more economically and conveniently. I commend the legislature for working with my administration on this critical issue and passing this legislation.”
The PACENET program has not had an income eligibility increase over the past 15 years. The passage of House Bill 270, sponsored by Rep. Frank Farry (R-Bucks) and Steve Samuelson (D-Northampton), includes an increase in the income eligibility limits and the implementation of medication synchronization.
The bill provides a $4,000 increase for both single and married Pennsylvanians. Total income for a single person can now be between $14,500 and $27,500. For a married couple, combined total income can be between $17,700 and $35,500.
The increase in income limits will allow an additional 14,000 older Pennsylvanians to receive prescription drug coverage through PACENET. It also will ensure that nearly 3,000 Pennsylvanians from don’t lose program enrollment due to increases in their income.
“Situations pertaining to older Pennsylvanians, who are on fixed incomes and are simply trying to make ends meet, are regularly brought to our attention,” said Secretary of Aging Teresa Osborne. “No senior should have to choose between paying their bills, buying groceries, or purchasing the medications they need. The passage of HB 270 exemplifies that Pennsylvania continues to make progress on its commitment to ensuring that seniors can age healthy and well with the dignity and respect they deserve.”
House Bill 270 also authorizes medication synchronization that coordinates filling and refilling of prescriptions by pharmacies or dispensing physicians for program participants who take two or more medications.
When an older adult is on multiple medications they must often make separate trips to the pharmacy to have them filled which decreases the likelihood of medication adherence and taking medications as prescribed.
The authorization of medication synchronization allows pharmacists to align pharmaceuticals for the senior by filling partial supplies of a prescription.
This service offers added convenience and improves medication adherence, without additional out-of-pocket costs to the older adult.
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