Lawmakers in Action – Issue 1 Rep. Nikki Rivera Champions Prescription Access for Seniors with HB923

About This Series

Welcome to Lawmakers in Action, a new blog series from the Black Voter Outreach Network of Pennsylvania.

Every session in Harrisburg, dozens of bills are introduced by local legislators—but most people never hear about them. Our goal is simple: shine a light on the bills your elected officials are writing, sponsoring, or championing, without spin or commentary. Just the facts.

We’re starting this series to help you stay informed and empowered. Whether a bill becomes law or not, it reveals what your representative is fighting for—or failing to address.

Each edition will feature:

• The bill title and number

• A plain-language summary of what the bill does

• Who it impacts

• And what it could mean for your community

This Week’s Spotlight: Rep. Nikki Rivera (D – Lancaster County)

Bill: House Bill 923 – PACE/PACENET Social Security COLA Moratorium Extension
Summary: Keeping prescription coverage accessible for thousands of Pennsylvania seniors—despite rising Social Security payments.

What’s the issue?

Pennsylvania’s two prescription assistance programs—PACE and PACENET—help more than 250,000 older adults afford their medications. But there’s a catch: if a senior’s income goes up even slightly, they could lose eligibility.

That’s where Social Security cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) come in. While they’re meant to help seniors keep up with inflation, they can accidentally disqualify thousands from the very programs they rely on for medicine.

What does HB923 do?

Rep. Nikki Rivera is sponsoring HB923, a bill that would extend an existing protection through 2027. Right now, thanks to Act 62 (passed in 2023), the state temporarily ignores COLA increases when checking if someone still qualifies for PACE or PACENET—but that protection expires at the end of 2025.

Without action, the numbers are stark:

• 10,039 seniors would lose PACENET coverage entirely

• 12,594 seniors would move from PACE to PACENET, increasing their out-of-pocket costs

HB923 keeps the COLA moratorium in place until December 31, 2027, helping thousands stay enrolled in the program they count on.

In Summary

• Rep. Rivera is the lead sponsor of HB923, which protects access to prescription help for older Pennsylvanians.

• The bill prevents Social Security increases from kicking people out of the program.

• It extends the current protection through 2027, helping nearly 23,000 seniors stay covered.

We’ll be back soon with another edition of Lawmakers in Action—because knowing who writes the rules helps you shape the future.