Twins host fans for open house and first full squad workoutShingle roofs could phase out in the future
FORT MYERS Twins host fans for open house and first full squad workout The Minnesota Twins held their first full squad workout of Spring Training as well as hosted fans for an open house.
Shingle roofs could phase out in the future Florida Insurance Commissioner Michael Yaworsky recently made comments at the Florida Chamber Insurance Summit about the potential phasing out of shingle roofs in the state.
SANIBEL Sanibel islanders rally to restore beloved fishing pier after Ian damage The Sanibel Fishing Pier, a beloved spot for many, has been in disrepair since Hurricane Ian struck more than two years ago. Now, dedicated fishers are pushing to restore it using private funding.
PUNTA GORDA Gunfire erupts on US 41 bridge in Punta Gorda; bikers arrested A road rage incident escalated into gunfire on the U.S. 41 bridge connecting Punta Gorda and Port Charlotte, causing fear among drivers.
CLEWISTON Clewiston father shoots friend over alleged sexual crime against daughter There is new information about a murder in Clewiston earlier this month.
BONITA SPRINGS Could San Carlos Estates merge with Bonita Springs? Residents of San Carlos Estates in Bonita Springs are fighting to maintain their neighborhood’s independence.
PUNTA GORDA New flight routes at Punta Gorda Airport The Punta Gorda Airport is expanding its offerings, adding new flight options for travelers.
LEE COUNTY Bregman’s arrival and Devers’ denial highlight Red Sox first full squad The addition of Alex Bregman and Rafael Devers’ refusal to change positions highlighted the first full squad workout for the Red Sox.
NORTH FORT MYERS March to a Million Meals: Teaming up to help feed families Feeding a quarter of a million people each month requires a lot of money and help.
Charlotte County residents voice concerns over Burnt Store Road upgrades An emergency meeting was held to address concerns from residents about the development along Burnt Store Road in Charlotte County.
PORT CHARLOTTE Local nonprofit gives back to veterans for their service A military wife has found a heartfelt way to honor veterans and first responders.
Miracle Moment: Ronald McDonald House offers hope to boy battling cancer It’s time for Miracle Moment.
PORT CHARLOTTE Tampa Bay Rays uplift Charlotte County fans post hurricanes Tampa Bay’s full squad reported on Monday and fans were out in full force, with more appreciation than the players might know.
Breakthrough for patients diagnosed with ALS Fewer than 500 people in the United States have a genetic mutation linked to their case of ALS.
EAST NAPLES 1 injured after house fire in East Naples An investigation is underway after a fire in East Naples.
FORT MYERS Twins host fans for open house and first full squad workout The Minnesota Twins held their first full squad workout of Spring Training as well as hosted fans for an open house.
Shingle roofs could phase out in the future Florida Insurance Commissioner Michael Yaworsky recently made comments at the Florida Chamber Insurance Summit about the potential phasing out of shingle roofs in the state.
SANIBEL Sanibel islanders rally to restore beloved fishing pier after Ian damage The Sanibel Fishing Pier, a beloved spot for many, has been in disrepair since Hurricane Ian struck more than two years ago. Now, dedicated fishers are pushing to restore it using private funding.
PUNTA GORDA Gunfire erupts on US 41 bridge in Punta Gorda; bikers arrested A road rage incident escalated into gunfire on the U.S. 41 bridge connecting Punta Gorda and Port Charlotte, causing fear among drivers.
CLEWISTON Clewiston father shoots friend over alleged sexual crime against daughter There is new information about a murder in Clewiston earlier this month.
BONITA SPRINGS Could San Carlos Estates merge with Bonita Springs? Residents of San Carlos Estates in Bonita Springs are fighting to maintain their neighborhood’s independence.
PUNTA GORDA New flight routes at Punta Gorda Airport The Punta Gorda Airport is expanding its offerings, adding new flight options for travelers.
LEE COUNTY Bregman’s arrival and Devers’ denial highlight Red Sox first full squad The addition of Alex Bregman and Rafael Devers’ refusal to change positions highlighted the first full squad workout for the Red Sox.
NORTH FORT MYERS March to a Million Meals: Teaming up to help feed families Feeding a quarter of a million people each month requires a lot of money and help.
Charlotte County residents voice concerns over Burnt Store Road upgrades An emergency meeting was held to address concerns from residents about the development along Burnt Store Road in Charlotte County.
PORT CHARLOTTE Local nonprofit gives back to veterans for their service A military wife has found a heartfelt way to honor veterans and first responders.
Miracle Moment: Ronald McDonald House offers hope to boy battling cancer It’s time for Miracle Moment.
PORT CHARLOTTE Tampa Bay Rays uplift Charlotte County fans post hurricanes Tampa Bay’s full squad reported on Monday and fans were out in full force, with more appreciation than the players might know.
Breakthrough for patients diagnosed with ALS Fewer than 500 people in the United States have a genetic mutation linked to their case of ALS.
EAST NAPLES 1 injured after house fire in East Naples An investigation is underway after a fire in East Naples.
The retail price of prescription drugs commonly used by older Americans has continued to increase faster than inflation, according to a new analysis from AARP. This marks the 12th year in a row that there has been a substantial increase in prices. AARP’s Public Policy Institute looked at the retail prices of 754 widely used brand name, generic and specialty drugs used by older Americans and found that the cost increased by an average of 4.2% in 2017 — twice the rate of general inflation for that same time period. This is lower than the drug price increases observed in previous years, but it’s a tepid improvement. For example, a drug used regularly with a retail price of $19,816 for 2017 would have cost only $7,263 if the price increase was in line with general inflation from 2006 to 2017, the report found. “If you take a look at what people are bringing in a year with social security on average, that’s almost 20% higher,” said Leigh Purvis, director of health services research at AARP’s Public Policy Institute. “It’s also approaching the median income for Medicare beneficiaries. That means these drugs are not affordable if they exceed a person’s average year income.” There is no one drug that is driving the trend of higher prices, although there are drugs that have been in the news for their “eye-popping prices,” including insulin and some cancer drugs, Purvis said, and there “is no sign of slowing” in this trend. “We have given drug manufacturers a lot of pricing power. They really are free to set remarkable increases in this market.” CNN reached out to Pharmaceutical Research & Manufacturers of America, or PhRMA, which works on behalf of the nation’s largest biopharmacuteutical and drug companies, for comment about the AARP report. Pelosi’s prescription drug price plan High drug prices remains a top issue with voters, the majority who think that there are not enough regulations as their should be when it comes to limiting the price of drugs. Annual spending on prescription drugs exceeds $450 billion, according to Pew Trusts, and will likely outpace the costs of other parts of the health sector. As part of a plan announced Thursday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi wants to give the federal government the ability to negotiate some drug prices and cap their costs. The House has also approved three bills that address drug costs this year. Republicans have long opposed allowing the government to negotiate drug prices. It remains to be seen if President Trump will back Pelosi’s proposal, but he signaled support via Twitter, noting “It’s great to see Speaker Pelosi’s bill today. Let’s get it done in a bipartisan way!” Trump, who campaigned on a promise to lower drug prices, has said in the past that drug companies were “getting away with murder.” More recently, US Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar — who worked for pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly & Co. and became president of Lilly USA — has remarked upon “positive developments” in pharmaceutical pricing behavior, but “drug companies have a lot further to go.” During Azar’s tenure with Lilly, the company was accused of routinely increasing drug prices. Federal filings show the pharmaceutical industry lobbing group spent about $27.5 million in 2018. That’s a record annual total for PhRMA. The past record lobbying bill topped out at a little over $25 million in 2009 when the industry was fighting the Affordable Care Act. This is in addition to the $194.3 million individual drug and health product companies spent on lobbying, according to OpenSecrets, a nonpartisan research group. ‘This is simply unsustainable’ AARP’s Purvis noted that increasing drug prices don’t just impact the people who take them. Everyone pays for drug price increases in the form of more expensive insurance premiums and through tax dollars that fund Medicare and Medicaid. If you are paying a lot for your drugs and you would like a smaller bill, other than making calls to your representatives, health care experts do say that you should talk with your pharmacist and doctor, to investigate what, if any alternatives are available that may be less expensive. Ultimately, what could make a difference, Purvis thinks, is public opinion. “There is wide bipartisan and public support, now more than ever, that this needs to change,” Purvis said. “There will come a point where no one will be able to afford prescription drugs. This is simply unsustainable.” The-CNN-Wire ™ & © 2019 Cable News Network, Inc., a Time Warner Company. All rights reserved.