Governor signs bill co-authored by Samuelson to expand PACENET eligibility
PACENET income limit to increase by $6,000
Rep. Steve Samuelson December 22, 2021 | 3:24 PM
HARRISBURG, Dec. 22 – Income limits for the PACENET prescription drug program will be increased by $6,000 under a new law signed today by Gov. Tom Wolf and co-authored by state Rep. Steve Samuelson.
“This bipartisan legislation expands access to prescription medications for our seniors by building upon the proven PACE/PACENET program and expanding eligibility,” said Samuelson, D-Northampton, who co-wrote H.B. 1260/Act 94 with Rep. Wendi Thomas, R-Bucks.
The law will increase enrollment for the state’s Prescription Assistance Contract for the Elderly Needs Enhancement Tier, known as PACENET, by about 20,000 people and raises the income limits to $33,500 for a single person and $41,500 for a married couple.
The new law provides financial incentives for PACENET enrollees to also sign up for federal Medicare Part D prescription coverage. Additional funds generated by increased participation in the federal prescription program will be used to pay for the increased PACENET enrollment.
In 2018, Samuelson co-authored similar legislation with Rep. Frank Farry, R-Bucks, which raised PACENET income limits by $4,000. These higher income limits, which were signed into law in October 2018, represented the first expansion of PACENET eligibility in 15 years. The legislation signed today by the governor raises the PACENET income limits by another $6,000.
The new income limits will take effect in 60 days.