Dayna Harpster

Of the nearly $1 billion saved in prescription drug costs during the first half of 2024 as a result of the Inflation Reduction Act, $78.5 million represented savings to Floridians, according to White House Senior Advisor on Health Christen Linke Young, on a call with WGCU Wednesday. The data comes from the Office of Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation. About 1.5 million seniors saved money because of the cap.The savings comes to seniors with Medicare Part D, whose out-of-pocket prescription drug costs are capped at around $3,500 this year. It affected 105,000 people in Florida, Young said. For 2025, prescription drug costs will be capped at $2,000. A report from the Department of Health and Human Services shows that if that cap had been in effect this year, 4.6 million enrollees nationally would have hit it by June 30 and would not have had to pay any more out-of-pocket costs for the rest of the year.Prior to the Inflation Reduction Act, there was not limit to the amount of out-of-pocket drug costs Medicare enrollees might pay for their medication. The Biden-Harris administration implemented the first cap on out-of-pocket drug costs on Jan. 1 of this year.

Collier fire fighters responded to a fire on the Kirby Storter boardwalk, one of the most popular visitor attractions in Big Cypress National Preserve.

FEMA, SBA and city officials met with Fort Myers Beach residents who are struggling to navigate the rebuilding process.

WGCU offers radio, TV programming for Veterans Day 2022

Updates Post-Ian Recovery Resources, an ongoing feature post-Ian

Post-Ian Recovery Resources: Thursday, Oct. 13

Food resources still open after Ian; Alliance for the Arts wants volunteers; Red Cross is sticking around

Little-by-little, Southwest Florida banks begin to reopen after Ian

Over the weekend the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was mobilizing its disaster response team to assist Lee County Domestic Animal Services in Fort Myers with search and rescue for animal victims of Hurricane Ian, and will also be supporting local emergency sheltering needs for displaced animals.