Section 503. Determination of eligibility.
(a) Duties of department.--The department shall adopt regulations relating to the determination of eligibility of prospective claimants and providers, including dispensing physicians and certified registered nurse practitioners when acting in accordance with rules and regulations promulgated by the State Board of Nursing as required by the act of May 22, 1951 (P.L.317, No.69), known as The Professional Nursing Law, and the State Board of Pharmacy minimum standards of practice, and the determination and elimination of program abuse. To this end, the department shall establish a compliance unit staffed sufficiently to fulfill this responsibility. The department shall have the power to declare ineligible any claimant or provider who abuses or misuses the established prescription plan. The department shall have the power to investigate cases of suspected provider or recipient fraud.
(b) Social Security cost-of-living adjustment.--
(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this act to the contrary, persons who, as of December 31, 2024, were enrolled in the PACENET program shall remain eligible for the PACENET program if the maximum income limit is exceeded due solely to a Social Security cost-of-living adjustment.
(2) Notwithstanding any other provision of this act to the contrary, persons who, as of December 31, 2024, were enrolled in the PACE program shall remain eligible for the PACE program if the maximum income limit is exceeded due solely to a Social Security cost-of-living adjustment.
(3) Eligibility in the PACE or PACENET program pursuant to this subsection shall expire on December 31, 2027.
((b) amended Nov. 24, 2025, P.L.307, No.49)
(503 amended July 9, 2008, P.L.934, No.69)
Compiler's Note: Section 1.1 of Act 21 of 2011, which reenacted and amended subsec. (b), provided that the reenactment and amendment of subsec. (b) shall apply retroactively to December 30, 2010.
Section 14 of Act 37 of 2003, which amended section 503, provided that the Department of Aging may use a PACE or PACENET program applicant's most recent annual income information to determine program eligibility until April 1, 2004.