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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Phyllis Mundy |
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Mundy: Bill ensuring continued Rx coverage for seniors to become law
HARRISBURG, July 4 – State Rep. Phyllis Mundy, chairman of the House Aging and Older Adult Services Committee, said legislation that originated in her committee that would ensure senior citizens enrolled in Pennsylvania's PACE and PACENET programs do not lose their prescription-drug coverage because of this year’s Social Security cost-of-living adjustment will soon become law.
Mundy, D-Luzerne, said when roughly 1,400 seniors received a 2.3 percent COLA in their Social Security benefits in January of this year, the increase threatened to push those seniors above the income limits for PACE and PACENET coverage.
The bill passed today will continue eligibility for all seniors who are currently eligible, regardless of the COLA increase, and ensure the benefits will remain intact for 15,000 seniors into next year.
"The committee zeroed in on the COLA issue immediately after learning seniors might lose their prescription drug coverage following the potential bump over income guidelines," Mundy said. "Those seniors enrolled in the state's premier prescription drug programs -- PACE and PACENET -- need not fear. They will be covered."
The measure now heads to the governor to be signed into law.
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