Financial assistance program expanded for Pa. medical marijuana patients

The state Department of Health has expanded its financial assistance program for state medical marijuana patients, including waiving annual fees for eligible patients enrolled in financial hardship programs such as SNAP, Medicaid and WIC.

The state said it also plans to distribute cash benefits to eligible patients.

“The department is pleased to be able to expand assistance to medical marijuana patients and caregivers who may be experiencing financial hardships,” acting Health Secretary Keara Klinepeter said in a news release. “Patients deserve to have access to their medicine to treat medical conditions and cost should not be a barrier.”

Act 44 of 2021 allowed state officials to create programs for providing relief to low-income medical marijuana patients. The new program is being rolled out in three phases.

The first two phases, implemented March 1, eliminate annual identification card and background check fees for eligible participants already enrolled in a financial hardship program.

The programs include the Children’s Health Insurance Program, also known as CHIP; the Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly, also known as PACE; the PACE Needs Enhancement Tier, also known as PACENET; the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as SNAP; and the Women, Infants and Children program, also known as WIC.

When implemented, the third phase will distribute a to-be-determined benefit amount to eligible patients. That benefit can be applied to any medical marijuana product purchased at Pennsylvania dispensaries, but cannot be used for non-medical products such as devices and accessories. There are 150 dispensaries open and dispensing products to patients within the state.