"At the same time, the report suggested that remarried Catholics could receive communion after a period of penance. "
But of course. They can alwaus go back to Confession and Communion. What you can't go back to is bigamous sexual relations.
This sounds flip, but it's not. I know a couple in my parish who are in one of these "irregular" divorce-remarriage union, who have discontinued sexual relations and are living like brother and sister for the sake of respect for their previous vows, their honor, and the honor of God.
I know this "honor" and "sanctity" thing is hard for the modern mind to accept.
It would be a lot easier to just buy a plenary indulgence. It’s probably been long enough that nobody remembers what it is, so the complaints would be minimal.
For anyone who understands the Real Presence, giving up the marital embrace when you’re not married is, in the big scheme of things, a very small price to pay to receive Him in the Holy Eucharist.