Medicare Enrolled will see Lower Costs on Select Drugs in 2026 – Herb Weiss

drug costs

CMS Continues Efforts to Negotiate Lower Drug Costs By Herb Weiss, contributing writer, aging issues With Medicare Open Enrollment ending next week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced that last year’s Medicare negotiations produced a net savings of 44%—about $12 billion—on 15 widely used prescription drugs that treat cancer and other…

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Talking Political Turkey During Thanksgiving Dinner – Herb Weiss

Thanksgiving family

Published in RINewstoday on November 25, 2024 – still relevant today! by Herb Weiss, contributing writer We face increased demands of family obligations planning for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday. Baking and cleaning to host dinner, and even unrealistic expectations about our families, or having a dysfunctional family, can produce extra stresses, feelings of anxiety, isolation,…

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Meals on Wheels Rhode Island Strategic Plan Builds Resilience, Growth – Herb Weiss

Meals on Wheels

By Herb Weiss, contributing writer, aging issues Today, nearly 13 million older Americans worry about having enough to eat, and a 2020 University of Michigan poll conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic found that 56% feel lonely—a level so severe it has been declared a public health epidemic. Although the historic federal shutdown has ended, reimbursement…

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Solo Agers are Living Alone. And Liking It – Herb Weiss

seniors living alone

By Herb Weiss, contributing writer on aging issues The Washington, DC–based AARP highlights the growing population of “solo agers†in the November/December 2025 issue of AARP Bulletin. These adults, age 50 and older, live alone without a spouse, partner, or anyone else under the same roof. According to the survey, this group now numbers 24…

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Aging Groups Say 2026 Social Security COLA Falls Short of What’s Needed for Seniors – Herb Weiss

seniors on social security cola increase

by Herb Weiss, contributing writer, aging issues On October 24, the Social Security Administration (SSA) announced a 2.8 percent Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) increase for 75 million beneficiaries, including those receiving Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments. Specifically, nearly 71 million Social Security beneficiaries and OASDI recipients will see a…

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The ABCs of Surviving Medicare Open Enrollment – Herb Weiss

Smiling elderly woman making a heart shape with her hands.

by Herb Weiss, contributing writer, aging issues It’s that time. The Medicare Open Enrollment period began last week and runs until December 7th. During this period, Rhode Island’s 243,000 Medicare beneficiaries (data from late 2024 to early 2025) are encouraged to explore their Medicare options, carefully review, compare options, and make necessary changes to their…

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A Physician’s Guide to Living Life Fully, Not Just Longer, with Dr. Ed Iannuccilli – Herb Weiss

Dr. Ed Iannuccilli at Senior Agenda Coalition of RI, Oct. 13, 2025 - RINewsToday

By Herb Weiss, contributing writer, aging issues Over two weeks ago, over 300 advocates, providers, and older adults gathered at the Senior Agenda Coalition of Rhode Island’s (SACRI) 16th Annual Conference and Expo, “Navigating Choppy Waters – Shelter from the Storm,†held at Rhodes on the Pawtuxet in Cranston. The Sept. 25 event featured a…

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