WILLIAMS: “A GOOD DAY FOR SENIORS”

HARRISBURG, October 15, 2003 -- State Sen. Connie Williams today voted to advance legislation that would allow more seniors to qualify for the state’s pharmaceutical assistance program.

During a meeting of the Senate Aging and Youth Committee, of which Williams is a member, legislation (H.B. 888) was unanimously voted out that would expand the PACE and PACENET programs. House members unanimously passed the bill in June, but it was delayed in the Senate in anticipation of action by the federal government.

“This is a good day for seniors in Pennsylvania,” Williams said. “This legislation would allow about 100,000 more seniors to qualify for the state’s program. Seniors should not have to choose between buying food and paying for prescriptions. Nor should people disregard the doctor’s treatment protocol, because they are trying to stretch a month’s supply of medication over two or three months.”

Williams has long advocated making changes in the PACE and PACENET program so that more seniors could qualify. Current participation in PACE has fallen to 40 percent of what it was in 1990, and only 18 percent of those eligible for PACENET even enroll, because eligibility levels haven’t kept up with rising costs.

“The changes included in this legislation would not only expand the program, but also preserve it,” Williams said.

The measure includes cost-containment provisions that would be established at no cost to the taxpayer, such as best price purchases.

Under the bill, income limits for the PACE program would increase by $500 (new limits would be $14,500 for singles and $17,700 for married couples). It also expands enrollment in the PACENET program by increasing the annual limit to 250 percent of the current federal poverty level ($22,500 for singles and $30,500 for married couples). Another important provision is a widow’s death benefit, which would allow people to exempt the first $10,000 of a death benefit when calculating income.

Seniors who need help paying for prescription drugs can call either of Williams’ office (610-992-9790 in King of Prussia or 610-853-5433 in Havertown) for information on programs offered by various drug companies, including GlaxoSmithKline’s Together RX Prescription Discount Card (more information is available at www.togetherrx.com) and the Pfizer for Living Share Card (more information is available at www.pfizer.sharecard.com).