KEYSTONE CLIPS Students rack up education grants

More than 4,700 pupils from Mercer and Butler counties received more than $9 million in state education grants for the 2002-03 school year through the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency.
State Rep. Dick Stevenson of Grove City, R-8th, whose district covers parts of the two counties, said 4,732 pupils were awarded a total of $9.26 million in state grants.
Statewide, the numbers were 154,000 pupils getting nearly $248 million in grants, he said.
Drugs for seniors
Pennsylvania senior citizens may be able to qualify for prescription drug assistance through the state's newly expanded Pharmaceutical Assistance Contract for the Elderly and PACE Needs Enhancement Tier prescription drug assistance programs.
State Rep. Rod Wilt of Greenville, R-17th, said the program has expanded income eligibility limits that will open it to more of Pennsylvania's residents.
Single seniors with incomes of up to $14,500 and married seniors with incomes up to $17,700 are now eligible for the PACE program.
PACENET income limits are between $14,500 and $23,500 for single seniors and $17,700 and $31,500 for married couples.
PACE participants pay a $6 copayment for each generic prescription and $9 for brand name drugs. PACENET participants must pay a monthly $40 deductible as well as an $8 co-pay on generic drugs and $15 on brand name prescriptions.
The programs are open to low-income Pennsylvanians 65 and older.
XCONTRIBUTOR: Harold Gwin, Vindicator Sharon Bureau.