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Many factors go into downsizing ELLEN BRAUNSTEIN
M
oving from a house that you have been in for a longtime to an apartment, condominium or smaller home can bring relief, but the process often involves more than simply finding a new place to live. For many older adults, the decision begins when maintaining the house becomes more difficult. Robert Gallmann of the Gallmann Group at RE/MAX in Solon said that aging systems, needed repairs and changing mobility can all signal that a home no longer fits its owners’ lives. Gallmann “The furnace is getting older, the roof is getting older, the AC is getting older,” Gallmann said. “Some of it’s from a property standpoint. Some of its mobility.” A second-floor bedroom or basement laundry room may become increasingly inconvenient or unsafe. At the same time, a house that once accommodated children may feel oversized after family members move out or a spouse dies. “The family’s gone, maybe a spouse is gone, and it’s just them or a couple, and they’re just in too big of a house,” Gallmann said. “It’s just a lifestyle change to make the house fit the lifestyle.” The move can also be highly emotional. People may be leaving the place where they raised children, celebrated birthdays, and bar and bat mitzvahs, and built relationships with neighbors. They may also be moving away from familiar grocery stores, salons, doctors and other parts of their routine. That attachment can cause people to delay planning, even when they recognize that a move may eventually be necessary. Gallmann said that many clients later tell him they wish they had moved sooner. “Most people wait too long, and when they do it, they’re like, ‘I wish I would have done this two years ago,’” he said. Planning early allows older adults to explore options
without facing the pressure of a health crisis or other sudden change. They can determine whether they want an apartment, condominium, smaller house or a home closer to their children. They can also learn what their current house may be worth and what improvements could help it sell. Gallmann advised homeowners to address major problems that are likely to arise during an inspection. Cosmetic changes can also make a significant difference. In one house, he recommended removing wallpaper and replacing blue carpeting before putting the property on the market. “The likely buyer is someone at the same stage of life she was in when she bought the house, not where she is today,” he said. Fresh paint, updated flooring, trimmed landscaping and minor handyman repairs can make a house more appealing to buyers who want a move-in-ready property. Older adults should discuss with a real estate professional which projects are worth completing and which may not provide enough return to make them worthwhile. That conversation can help them avoid spending unnecessarily while still preparing the house for sale. Gallmann recently worked with a couple who had lived for 25 years on 3 acres in Auburn Township. Their bedroom was upstairs, and maintaining the lawn and snow had become more difficult because of health problems. At first, they were not ready to move. Gallmann suggested turning a first-floor office into a bedroom, which allowed them to remain in the house for two more years. When they were ready, they prepared the property, received multiple offers and arranged to have 90 days to find a rental. A successful move begins with a clear plan and professionals who understand the pressures older adults may face, Gallman said. “They’re going to make all the decisions,” he said. “We’re just here to give them all the information they need to make great decisions.” Ellen Braunstein is a freelance journalist.
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2 CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS | CJN.ORG | JULY 10, 2026
Transportation services help seniors remain active ELLEN BRAUNSTEIN
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or people with disabilities, staying socially connected often depends on leaving home. “One of the biggest barriers is transportation,” Laura Kleinman, executive director of Senior Transportation Connection, said. For people who do not have a vehicle, caregiver or family member who can help, “they can’t get out of the house,” Kleinman said. “Transportation is really critical to enabling them to leave and to really have a quality experience with other people,” she said. Kleinman Senior Transportation Connection provides door-to-door transportation throughout Cuyahoga County. The service is available to people who use wheelchairs, scooters, walkers or canes and others who have difficulty traveling independently. “We go up to somebody’s door,” Kleinman said. “We help them exit their home, we make sure they get to the vehicle and in the vehicle safely. And when they get there with their destination, we walk them to the door.” The organization takes passengers to medical appointments, grocery stores, senior centers and activities. It contracts with municipalities and social service agencies, which pay most of the cost. “We have some communities that pay the entire fare, and
so the ride is free,” Kleinman said. In others, riders may pay $2, $3 or $5. Personal care assistants, including relatives, can accompany riders at no charge. That can ease anxiety about a first trip. “Someone might feel more comfortable getting a ride with somebody they know, at least the first couple of times,” Kleinman said. Kleinman encouraged people to register before they need transportation. “You never know when you’re going to need it,” she said. Once registered, “you just call us and you schedule a ride.” Some riders feel uneasy asking for help. Kleinman suggested asking a friend, relative or another person from the community to accompany them. “I would encourage them to ask another person to go with them, to try it out together, as opposed to alone,” she said. A program director also might help find another rider from the same community, “so that they know someone on the vehicle and they’re not alone,” Kleinman said. Senior Transportation Connection also brings vehicles to senior centers for familiarization tours. “It gives people a chance to meet a driver, get on the vehicle and ask questions before scheduling a ride,” Kleinman said. Other options include Greater Cleveland RTA’s paratransit program and private nonemergency transportation providers. Kleinman said riders must apply
and be approved as eligible for RTA’s paratransit service. Some private transportation services may be covered by Medicaid, Medicare or another funding source. Ride-hailing services may work for some passengers, but Kleinman said they are “not consistently able to provide accessible transportation.” Once transportation is arranged, senior centers can offer activities for people with a range of abilities. “There’s chair yoga for someone who can’t necessarily stand very well,” Kleinman said. Centers also may offer games, cognitive activities, book readings and group lunches. People looking for programs can call city hall and ask where senior activities are offered, she said. They may be directed to a senior center or parks and recreation department. Kleinman recalled two women in Cleveland’s Collinwood neighborhood who use transportation to attend programs at a center every day. They read, participate in activities, eat meals and spend time with friends. When she asked what they would do without Senior Transportation Connection, “they both said, ‘We wouldn’t go. We would stay home,’” Kleinman recalled. “They would not be going, and they would be staying home alone, not stimulating their brains or their bodies,” she said. Ellen Braunstein is a freelance journalist.
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Pickleball serves up health benefits for seniors
ndependent Independent Independent & Assisted &&Journey Assisted Assisted Living Living Living The The Senior The Senior Senior Journey Journey Independent Independent & & Assisted Assisted Living Living Independent & Assisted Living Independent &Assisted Assisted Living The The Senior Senior Journey Journey The Senior Journey The Senior Journey Mills Assisted Assisted Living Living Living Services... Services... Services... ills Gates Club Gates Mills now Mills Club offers Club now now offers Licensed offers Licensed Licensed JIMMY OSWALD joswald@cjn.org
Riemer said, and it is a sport that is ripe for growth, keeping people out practicing and socializing, stimulating their body and their extending extending your extending Independent your your Independent Independent Living Living Living at at GMC at GMC GMC Gates Mills Club now offers Licensed Assisted Living Services... Assisted Assisted Living Living Services... Services... Assisted Living Services... Gates Gates Mills Mills Club Club now now offers offers Licensed Licensed Gates Mills offers henClub peoplenow think about the Licensed health brain. benefits of pickleball, their mind ButLiving before stepping on the court, it is Living at GMC extending your Independent Living Living at GMC at GMC at GMC extending extending your your Independent Independent extending your Independent Gates Mills Club now offers Licensed Assisted Living Services... often wanders to the physical important for everyone, but especially extending your Independent Living at GMC ones. After all, running older adults, to stretch and get loose before around a court and starting. using a paddle to send “What’s nice about our facility is that we a ball shooting back have a stretching area in the back,” Riemer over the net over and said. “I know people love to just get here and over again sounds like get on the court, but we have to remember an activity that will get stretching is important. As is walking or your heart pumping and doing a light jog. Our facility is like a big muscles moving. track, so you can do a couple laps and get Laundry & housekeeping done for you • Activities galore style • Easy •• Easy Lifestyle Lifestyle • Very Accessible • Very • Very Accessible Accessible ••Trips Trips • Trips and and and events events events But for all the great warmed up by walking or jogging. 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You just don’t want to jump • Great • •Great Location Location • • Extra Extra care care should should the the need need arise arise • Apartment • Apartment style living style • living Great Location • Extra care should the need arise • Apartment living • Excellent Amenities • Lifelong learning • Fine Dining Excellent Amenities • Lifelong learning • Fine Dining are just as many positives for your mental into a game because that’s whenstyle injuries do • Excellent • ExcellentAmenities Amenities •• Lifelong Lifelonglearning learning • Fine • Fine Dining Dining • Excellent Amenities • Lifelong learning • Fine Dining health, as well, according to Melissa Riemer, happen.” operations manager at Ace Pickleball Club Even playing just a couple times a week is in Solon. perfect for keeping moving, but Riemer said 6759 Mayfield Road A2p2nand2dr2nmtnmdm m “It is not only good to play for the some older adults come in as often as five odonnm t2hhonno n n t t t ’s e h h ’sd m’s ’s 440.461.2010 nR SSS Stara teennt tts onth’s exercise, but it’s good for the social aspect,” rtRat2RierinerS days a week. tat$ t1 n t n g t 2 2nd mo R i nanaoagrntg dgtm0 tttnhiaednna t tonth Riemer told the Cleveland Jewish News. m .n1 $ $9./31 0 nth’s “It just depends where you’re at with 1 t www.GatesMillsClub.com (end$ g . . ’s ’s 0 0 0 $ s a 1 0 0 0 t www.GatesMillsClub.com www.GatesMillsClub.com www.GatesMillsClub.com 0 (en(e .tR0ie0nt StartRient she RS 0e 20n dS ds0sr99/2t/3 t sn(et9dn/3a ) tar www.GatesMillsClub.com “Older adults come in here, they see their your health journey and everything,” 0 0 n /2(e /2 /2 d i s 0 0 0 n n n g92/302)00/2) 20g) at friends and they’re enjoying their time. The said. “And again, beyond the$game g at it $ 20)$ 1. itself, 0 www.GatesMillsClub.com www.GatesMillsClub.com(ends19/3.0(e0nd0s1a9/3t.000 www.GatesMillsClub.com (ends 9 00 /3 0/20A20lot of goal is to have an inclusive environment gets people interacting with others. /2020) /2020) ) with a friendly community where everyone people will come in, drink their coffee and is welcome and everyone knows your name sit and chat. It offers a community space to when you walk in.” come in, hang out, talk and watch others Every Client. According to the Sports and Fitness play a few games.” Every Day. Industry Association, 24.3 million And you don’t have to know a bevy of Americans played pickleball in 2025, a 479% pickleball players to get on the court and increase since 2020. 60% of players are 55 play a session. Riemer explained that plenty and older and a little more than 33.7% are 65 of people came in as strangers and walked and older, according to Lee Health. out as friends. “It keeps everyone moving and keeps “We actually have a group of ladies everyone engaged,” Riemer said. “Handhere that didn’t know each other until they eye coordination is super important, and started playing here, and now they call it keeps older adults going with that. It’s a themselves the Spice Girls,” she said. “It’s great environment and a great game to get about five ladies and they go on weekend If your loved one is being mistreated or neglected everyone involved in.” trips together now. Connections are made in a nursing home, you are not alone. Abuse and For older adults who are looking for a here that go beyond pickleball. And what’s neglect can happen behind closed doors, leaving way to get active, not only is pickleball a great here is that we know every one of our families unsure of what to do next. strong option, but the entry level isn’t as members’ names. If we have a new person daunting as other recreational activities. come in, we’ll walk them around the facility, Elk + Elk helps families protect their loved ones Many places, such as Ace Pickleball, offer introduce them to everyone we can and get and hold nursing homes accountable. introduction classes. them more comfortable and feeling good “Our focus is getting people into the about jumping on a court with people they How We Help Families game and have them start playing,” she said. might not know.” “You’re going to learn to serve and return, Expertise in Nursing Home Abuse Cases the etiquette, the scoring and all aspects of Compassionate Approach Get a closer look at the game. From there, we also offer Starter No Fees Unless We Win the vibrant stories of Series classes, which are eight sessions for beginner players, and during those classes Cleveland’s Jewish you go over different parts of the game and If you are concerned about a loved one’s care, call us. community when you put it all together.” follow @clevejn on Classes are a good way to boost confidence and increase participation, Instagram.
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Looking for a PRIMARY CARE PROVIDER? Spry Senior Specializes in Adults age 55+ Is your primary care provider retiring? Are you looking for a practice closer to home? Or perhaps you want to see someone who understands the needs of aging adults? Whatever your reason, Spry Senior can help! We’re currently accepting new patients at all of our locations. Our providers specialize in the healthcare needs of older adults, helping patients improve cognition, functionality and disease management.
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6 CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS | CJN.ORG | JULY 10, 2026
Affordable fun awaits seniors across Northeast Ohio
W
ith summer in full swing, seniors across Northeast Ohio have plenty of opportunities to stay active and engaged. From free events to low-cost outings, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Here are just a few suggestions.
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LOW COST Greater Cleveland Aquarium is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily and is at 2000 Sycamore St. Cleveland Metroparks Zoo is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is at 3900 Wildlife Way in Cleveland. Admission is free on Mondays, except holidays, for residents of Cuyahoga County and Hinckley Township. Cleveland Botanical Gardens is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m on Tuesday to Saturday, 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday and closed on Monday. It is at 11030 East Blvd. Cleveland Museum of Natural History is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., except Monday and Friday when it is closed. The museum is at 1 Wade Oval Drive in Cleveland.
Medicare covering some GLP-1 weight loss drugs for $50 ALI SWENSON | ASSOCIATED PRESS
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FREE Cleveland Cultural Gardens is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays in Cleveland’s University Circle neighborhood. West Side Market is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturdays, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sundays. It is at 1979 W. 25th St. in Cleveland. Edgewater Park is open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily and is at 6500 Cleveland Memorial Shoreway in Cleveland. Rockefeller Park and Greenhouse is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily and is in Cleveland’s University Circle neighborhood International Women’s Air and Space Museum is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily at Burke Lakefront Airport at 1501 N. Marginal Road, Suite 165 in Cleveland. James A. Garfield Memorial is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily and is at 12316 Euclid Ave. in Cleveland. The Cleveland Museum of Art is open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. It is at 11150
East Blvd. in Cleveland. Cleveland Public Library is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Saturday. The library is at 325 Superior Ave. in Cleveland. Cleveland Heights Public Library has branches in Cleveland Heights and University Heights. Cuyahoga County Public Library has branches throughout the county. Shaker Heights Public Library has two branches.
NEW YORK – Popular – and expensive – GLP-1 weight loss drugs just got a lot cheaper for many older Americans. As of July 1, the federal government began offering a selection of the brand name medications to certain Medicare and Medicare Advantage beneficiaries for $50 a month through a new trial called Medicare GLP-1 Bridge. The temporary program, which runs until the end of 2027, is the first opportunity for most older adults to get GLP-1s, short for glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, covered by insurance when used strictly for weight loss. But there are weight and health requirements, and those who already get GLP-1s covered for diseases like diabetes and sleep apnea won’t qualify. Dr. Mehmet Oz, the administrator
of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, said he hopes the program can help his agency collect data to potentially work toward longer-term coverage, while providing immediate relief to cash-strapped older Americans. “The sheer cost of these medications is a huge barrier to access,” he said in a call with reporters. “That ends today.” Of the more than 70 million Americans enrolled in Medicare, at least 10 million are overweight or obese, said Juliette Cubanski, vice president and director of the program on Medicare policy at the healthcare research nonprofit KFF. But, she said, a narrower slice of that group will have access to this program. There’s no good data on how many people it can benefit – and Oz declined to DRUGS | CONTINUED ON PAGE 8
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JULY 10, 2026 | CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS | CJN.ORG 7
Cleveland study identifies potential Parkinson’s treatment
S
tudies conducted by Cleveland researchers revealed a possible new treatment for Parkinson’s disease and other neurodegenerative conditions. According to research at University Hospitals, Case Western University and the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center, the drug can treat neurodegenerative conditions like Parkinson’s disease and traumatic brain injury in a study published in the scientific journal, “Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.” Dr. Andrew A. Pieper, the Morley-Mather Chair of Neuropsychiatry, and the director of the Brain Health Medicines Center at Harrington Discovery Institute at University Hospitals, alongside Dr. Sanford Markowitz, the Ingalls Professor of Cancer Genetics and Distinguished University Professor at the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center and Division of Hematology-Oncology Department of Medicine at Case Western Reserve and UH Seidman Cancer Center, led the study and found that blocking the enzyme 15-PGDH, or 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase, protected brain cells and enhanced outcomes in numerous pre-clinical models of Parkinson’s disease, according to a news release. Dr. Min-Kyoo Shin, former postdoctoral trainee in the Pieper Laboratory
and current assistant professor at Seoul National University, contributed to the study by applying the same approach to three different models of Parkinson’s disease. It was found that drugs already in development for other conditions may also help slow or prevent neurodegeneration in Parkinson’s disease, the release said. Pieper is also the Rebecca E. Barchas, MD, DLFAPA, Professor of Translational Psychiatry at Case Western Reserve University, and psychiatrist and investigator in the Louis Stokes VA Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center. “We were encouraged to see that both human Parkinson’s disease brain tissue and the brains of our three mouse models showed abnormally elevated levels of 15-PGDH,” Pieper said in the release. “Both genetic and pharmacologic inhibition restored redox homeostasis, which protected mice from the neuroinflammation, neuronal cell death, and motor impairment normally seen in these models of PD.” Markowitz said in the release, “We were excited to find that inhibiting 15PGDH mediated neuroprotection through downregulating a trio of the dopaminergic neuronal cell death mediator lipocalin-2 (Lcn2), the pro-inflammatory cytokine
interleukin-1β, and the reactive oxygen generator Cybb/Nox2. This provides new mechanistic insight into how 15-PGDH inhibitors could target and prevent neurodegeneration in Parkinson’s disease.” According to the release, previous work from the research team demonstrated high CNS penetration of the 15-PGDH inhibitor SW033291, that was developed in the Markowitz Laboratory, with sustained drug levels in both brain and plasma for up to six hours and near-complete ablation of 15-PGDH enzyme activity in the brain. The clinical safety of 15-PGDH inhibition is supported by the absence of toxicity in a recent Phase 1 clinical trial of the 15-PGDH inhibitor MF-300, as well as by findings from humans with biallelic inactivating mutations of 15-PGDH, in whom the only consistently observed phenotype is congenital digital clubbing, the release said. “Encouragingly, both pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies have initiated development of 15-PGDH inhibitors for peripheral indications, and inhibitor MF-300 has already completed Phase 1 clinical trials,” Markowitz said. “Our results now provide the rationale to repurpose such agents for the treatment of PD.”
Notably, 15-PGDH-mediated protection in one model driven by pathological accumulation of α-synuclein, which is thought to cause the disease, was achieved without any change in accumulation of pathologically phosphorylated α-synuclein. According to the research, this demonstrates that therapeutic benefit can be achieved independently of this aspect of synuclein pathology. “This work parallels our recent finding that 15-PGDH-mediated neuroprotection in an amyloid-based Alzheimer’s disease mouse model occurred independently of changes in amyloid pathology, contributing to a growing body of evidence that potent therapeutic effect can be achieved by targeting the brain’s damage and inflammatory response to the primary drivers of disease,” Pieper said in the release. Next steps in this research will focus on exploring downstream signaling pathways to better understand how 15-PGDH contributes to both normal brain function and neurodegeneration. According to the release, researchers hope that further investigation into the regulatory mechanisms governing Hpgd expression may help clarify the upstream processes that drive 15-PGDH elevation in PD.
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8 CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS | CJN.ORG | JULY 10, 2026 DRUGS | CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6
speculate on the number with reporters. He said data from the program will reveal how many eligible beneficiaries choose to take the drugs, a number his team is keen to learn. To qualify, besides having Medicare drug coverage, you must have a body mass index of 35 or higher, or a BMI of 27 or higher alongside another health condition, such as a past heart attack or stroke, prediabetes or another from a list on the CMS website. BMI measurements are counted at the start of GLP-1 therapy – so even people who fall below the threshold now can qualify if they can show they had a high enough BMI when they began taking the drugs. Medicare beneficiaries who have sleep apnea, diabetes or fatty liver disease can’t access the program, but their Medicare Part D insurance might cover their GLP-1s
separately based on those diagnoses. If you think you might qualify, the first step is to contact your health care provider, CMS says on its website. The provider must send a prescription for one of the covered GLP-1 drugs to a pharmacy and fill out a prior authorization form. The covered medications include drugmaker Eli Lilly’s Foundayo tablets and Zepbound KwikPens and Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy injections and tablets. Those GLP-1s have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for weight loss, Cubanski said. For those in the program, the cost is $50 per month, regardless of dosage. But those payments won’t contribute to their insurance deductibles or out-of-pocket maximums. That’s because Medicare, rather than the Part D insurer, is subsidizing the prescription.
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As of July 1, the federal government began offering a selection of the brand name medications to certain Medicare and Medicare Advantage beneficiaries for $50 a month through a new trial called Medicare GLP-1 Bridge. | AP Photo / David J. Phillip, File LONGER-TERM COVERAGE OF GLP-1S REMAINS UNCERTAIN The program is scheduled to sunset after Dec. 31, 2027. And since Congress hasn’t authorized Medicare to cover weight loss drugs permanently, the federal government is limited in its options to keep the access flowing. Congress could pass a law to allow the drugs to be covered. CMS also could move forward with a different, voluntary pilot program for covering the drugs called BALANCE, which the agency indefinitely delayed earlier this year when many Part D insurers were reluctant to sign up. Oz told reporters that CMS plans to “carefully track participation and outcomes” to see whether an extension of the Bridge program or another solution is the best way to move forward. He told The Associated Press a federal law permanently allowing the coverage is “not essential right now” but something “for Congress to debate amongst themselves.” “We can’t decide what’s going to happen long term with Bridge until we see some of the data,” he said, noting that other negotiations with drug companies to lower costs are ongoing. PROGRAM IS LIFE-CHANGING FOR SOME, FRUSTRATING FOR OTHERS GLP-1s have soared in popularity in recent years, and they’ve spurred dramatic weight loss in many patients. But their cost – sometimes hundreds of dollars a month for higher doses — has been a barrier. For 78-year-old California resident Gloria Dralla, who told the AP she’s lost some 40 pounds after buying lowercost Wegovy in Europe, the Bridge program means being able to continue a treatment that has improved her life. “This drug should be made available at a reasonable price for everybody who’s got weight loss problems,” she said. But not everyone will have access to the drugs at an affordable price. Katie Smith, 71, in Virginia isn’t so sure she will be eligible for the program. She has a BMI of 33 but doesn’t know yet if she has another health condition that would allow her to meet the requirements. Smith, whose mobility and ability to exercise were severely limited by a spinal cord injury in her 20s, said she has looked into getting the medications but was quoted $700 a month, a price she can’t afford. “I cannot tell you how frustrated I am,” she said. “I have the drive and I have the willingness and I have the motivation, but I have not been able to lose weight in all the conventional ways.”
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JULY 10, 2026 | CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS | CJN.ORG 9
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2025
I am a current client
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Ambulation, Dressing & Bathing Assist
Daily Health Reminders, Meal Planning
They were very caring and helpful. Prompt to reply and thorough in their Dr. A -approach. October 2015 100 accolades 31, to you and your team The caregivers were exceptional. Can't recommend highly Dr. A You - October 31, 2015 made me completely comfortable, and my mother has I am a current client enough. I am current client reliable team thattheshe looks forward every fit day! Weaahad a good fit with caregiver. She was to a perfect for us. Shelly Weunderstands hadThank a goodyou, fit with the caregiver. Sheare awhere perfect fit forcalling, us.isShelly Iwe truly believe you meant for this what need and picked upwas on everything in the understands what we need and picked up on where everything is in the if you need to take some worry out of caring for a family kitchen quickly. Communication between us is excellent. She is a real member, trust Shalom and his wonderful team.She is a real kitchen quickly. Communication between us is excellent. winner. I feel she is someone to look forward seeing again. at Home is made of caregivers whoagain. are meant for winner.Right I feel she is someone to look forward seeing this!
Steve V. - September 30, 2015 Steve V.of-Supervision September 30,built 2015 Don’t ever stop.&You’ve a wonderful company, and I Power attorney Safety Transportation
gladly praise your and dedication. I recommend Right at Home Power of attorney They were very Dressing caring to reply and thorough in their Ambulation, & helpful. BathingPrompt Assistance
and will never They werethat very caring andchange. helpful. Prompt to&reply and thoroughhighly in their approach. The caregivers were exceptional. Can't recommend Daily Health Reminders, Meal Planning Preparation Thank you, Shalom. (And a special nod to Shayla, who approach. The caregivers were exceptional. Can't recommend highlygot enough. Alzheimer's, Stroke Recovery & Hospice Support us the help we desperately needed with virtually no notice).” enough.
Safety Supervision & Transportation
Alzheimer's, Stroke Recovery & Hospic
Safety Supervision & Transportation Safety Supervision & Transportation Ambulation, Dressing & Bathing Assistance Ambulation, Dressing & Meal Bathing Assistance Daily Health Reminders, Planning & Preparation
Daily Health Stroke Reminders, Meal &Planning Preparation Alzheimer's, Recovery Hospice&Support Alzheimer's, Stroke Recovery & Hospice Support
Trust the Plotkin Plotkin Family family Call the AA Tradition TraditionofofCaring Caring 216.752.2222 Cleveland 216.752.2222
Proud Winner of the 2017, 2018, 2019, www.ohioseniorcare.net 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 and Shalom@ohioseniorcare.net Call the Plotkin Family 2026 Caring Super Star Award
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SENIOR LIVING
10 CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS | CJN.ORG | JULY 10, 2026
Trump administration proposes rule it says could save Medicare patients $1.1B on drugs JOSH BOAK | ASSOCIATED PRESS WASHINGTON – The Trump administration is proposing a new rule on July 2 to keep hospitals from charging markups on discounted drugs for Medicare patients and says that could save consumers $1.1 billion next year, according to estimates obtained by The Associated Press. The rule would apply to hospitals that serve low-income patients under what is known as the 340B program, which lets hospitals buy outpatient prescription drugs at discounted prices. But in many cases, hospitals can bill insurers at rates that exceed those costs, allowing hospitals to keep the difference and resulting in higher costs to patients. Under the proposed rule, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services would change the formula for what hospitals participating in the program can get reimbursed, in an effort to cut costs for patients. The Republican administration has sought to show during an election year that it is tackling the challenges of affordability
for U.S. families at a time when rising healthcare costs are driving financial strains for households and the government alike. While the administration has taken several steps it says will save money on medical treatment, it is unclear how much savings might ultimately materialize based on the complexity of the country’s healthcare system. The American Hospital Association said the proposed rule would compound the financial pressures its members face. “These proposals will undermine the ability of hospitals to maintain essential services and protect affordable access to care for those who depend on the 340B program,” said Ashley Thompson, the group’s senior vice president for public policy analysis and development. There is the risk that hospital systems could see their revenues decrease, which could have consequences in the communities they serve. The 340B program was initially designed as a way for healthcare providers to stretch scarce federal resources to better serve more patients. But it has
long been at the center of a lobbying battle between hospitals and pharmaceutical companies, with each side attempting to enlist lawmakers in maintaining or changing the benefit. The agency estimates that the average older adult with Medicare Part B coverage who is administered one of these drugs would save $800 a year in co-payments. That would work out to a total savings of $1.1 billion for everyone with that coverage. The savings over 10 years could total about $20 billion, according to a White House official who requested anonymity to discuss the rule before the official announcement. The official said the proposed rule was not previewed for hospital groups before the release. In a policy draft of the rule, the administration gave a specific example of how the current system works for the prostate cancer drug Lupron Depot. Hospitals under the 340B program can acquire a dose for roughly $700, but they can receive about $4,000 in Medicare reimbursement for administering it and
an additional $1,000 from the patient copayment. The proposed rule would cut by roughly 40% that amount that hospitals in the discounted drug program could be paid through Medicare programs. If approved, the rule would go into effect at the start of next year. In 2018 during President Donald Trump’s first term, his administration tried to enact this same type of rule to reduce Medicare payments to hospitals. But the Supreme Court ruled in 2022 that the government could not provide a separate reimbursement plan for 340B hospitals. The president signed an executive order in April 2025 to survey how much hospitals spend to buy drugs. The result of that survey led to the proposed rule, which would cap Medicare reimbursement for participating hospitals at the average sales prices, minus 33.4%. The reason why the average reimbursement rate would be cut is because the hospitals acquired the drugs at discounted prices.
BRETT, BASKIN & ROBINS ... TOGETHER, IN THE CLEVELAND JEWISH NEWS
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