Pennsylvania will require low-income seniors currently enrolled in the PACE prescription drug assistance program to enroll in Medicare Part D. (Medical News Today)
PACE covers drug costs not covered by Medicare. The state sent letters to Pace enrollees to inform them about their new Medicare plans. Beneficiaries will have 10 days to object to the state’s recommendations. After 10 days, the state will enroll beneficiaries in the recommended plans automatically.
Apparently, PACE participants had the option of not enrolling in Medicare drug plans, but officials “changed their minds,” said PACE director Tom Snedden. From the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
“It’s not in their best interest to opt out,” Mr. Snedden said of enrollees, noting that many should see little, if any, change in their prescription drug coverage by joining a Part D plan.
He acknowledged concerns that the state, which plans to save millions of dollars a year by merging the federal and state drug programs, could save much less if many enrollees decided not to join Part D.
