The Pharmaceutical Assistance Contract for the Elderly (PACE and PACENET) offers low-cost prescription medication to qualified residents, age 65 and older. It was created by Act 1983-63 and implemented on July 1, 1984. PACE and PACENET work with retiree/union coverage, employer plans, and veterans benefits and provide a seamless wrap-around with Medicare Part D.
The Program works with local, state, and federal agencies to maximize resources and conducts data-driven outreach and application assistance to connect Pennsylvania’s seniors with public benefit programs. The PACE Application Center completes and submits applications for eligible persons and enrolls them in benefits.
- Targeting enrollment outreach exclusively at unenrolled eligible persons and facilitating their application processing
- Protecting all enrollees from overutilization and misutilization of medications
- Providing enrollees facilitated enrollment in other public benefits, most notably Medicare Part D and the Medicare “Extra Help” benefits, Property Tax and Rent Rebates (PTRR), Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP), and the Low-Income Heating Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
Those ineligible for PACE or PACENET are referred to the PACE Clearinghouse for assistance, along with anyone 18 and older with or without prescription insurance. The Clearinghouse has the expertise necessary to connect persons in need of social and life services such as medical and prescription needs, food insecurity, housing assistance, and employment.
The PACE and PACENET Programs and the PACE Clearinghouse are administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Aging and funded by the Pennsylvania Lottery.
