Rx for helping seniors
The existence of the Pennsylvania Lottery program hinges on its commitment to help the elderly. The PACE and PACENET programs that pick up all or part of the cost of prescription drugs are of particular help to struggling seniors. Over the years fewer seniors are able to meet the income eligibility requirements, as Social Security cost-of-living increases bump them from the program. The General Assembly has done little to correct this deficiency.
For far too long, lawmakers have shirked their responsibility and have adopted the wait-and-see approach. The overriding justification is that this is a national problem, one that the president and Congress ought to solve.
But year after year, election cycle following election cycle, the issue of providing some relief to costly prescriptions has gone nowhere.
For a brief shining moment, Pennsylvania’s seniors thought relief was at hand. Gov. Ed Rendell and both aisles of the state House agreed in June on a way of helping 100,000 more seniors with prescription drug coverage with marginal costs to the state. There is little not to like about the program. In fact all House lawmakers were on board.
But the state Senate has ignored this important bill. Throughout the summer Congress has fiddled with Medicare reform and a prescription card for seniors that would provide a discount. The so-called reform is as complicated as the IRS tax code in that it isn’t clear when or which seniors would benefit.
This isn’t the answer that Pennsylvania seniors deserve. Pennsylvania, through its Lottery program, can afford to do better. The state Senate, when it chooses to return to work, must concur.