Eligibility for the state’s Pharmaceutical Assistance Contract for the Elderly (PACE) and the Pharmaceutical Assistance Contract for the Elderly Needs Enhancement Tier (PACENET) programs are expanding through newly signed legislation.

PACE and PACENET offer low-cost prescription medication to qualified residents, age 65 and older.

A news release from the Pennsylvania Department of Aging said that Gov. Tom Wolf put into effect Act 92 of 2021, which allows enrollees to maintain their PACE benefits until Dec. 31, 2023, despite disqualifying increases in their overall income due to Social Security cost-of-living adjustments. The original moratorium was set to expire Dec. 31.

Also put into effect is Act 94 of 2021, which expands the income eligibility limits for PACENET by $6,000 and removes the PACENET premium clawback, which will result in premium cost savings for some enrollees. The clawback will only apply to those individuals enrolled in the program's Part D partner plans. This will reduce the premium obligation for about 28,000 individuals, according to the news release.

PACE and PACENET currently enroll more than 250,000 older Pennsylvanians. The income limit expansions mean that an additional 100,000 older adults are now eligible with an expected 20,000 older adults expected to enroll in 2022. Enrollment begins in February.