Bill Would Mesh PACE and Medicare Drug
Programs
A column by State Senator Pat Browne
16th Senatorial District
November 25, 2003 was a landmark day for Pennsylvania's
older residents and for senior citizens across the nation.
On that day, the state Senate passed and sent to the
Governor legislation providing for a dramatic expansion of
Pennsylvania's PACE and PACENET programs. Meanwhile, also on
November 25, Congress passed the Medicare Modernization Act,
which included the national prescription drug assistance
program that evolved into Medicare Part D.
Individually, these were significant actions, but
together, they show that Pennsylvania and the nation
recognized the impact that rising prescription drug costs
are having on families. Family budgets, especially those
with fixed-incomes, simply were not keeping up with the
increased costs.
Since then, these two important programs have followed
separate paths and many senior citizens have questions about
the benefits that they are eligible to receive. Concern and
confusion have risen to such a point among our older
residents that I now include a discussion of the
interrelation of PACE and Medicare Part D as part of my
senior citizen expos.
However, a recently introduced bill may help cut the
confusion while improving the benefits available to
Pennsylvania's senior citizens. Senate Bill 1188 would
restructure PACE and PACENET so that they work seamlessly
with the federal Medicare prescription drug program.
If enacted, this 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
co-payments 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;
- some
costs shift to the federal program that have typically
been incurred by the state program.
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.
I assure you the General Assembly recognizes the need to
protect our older residents. It is well documented that more
than 2.4 million Pennsylvanians are 60 or over. That's
nearly 20 percent of our state's total population.
We, as Pennsylvania lawmakers, recognize that we have a
special responsibility to make sure our state's older
residents have access to the best health care available, at
an affordable price. Bringing the PACE and Medicare Part D
programs into line is a great step in that direction.
