the Food and Drug Administration today gave the## go-ahead to allow a state to import# drugs from Lisa Desjardins looks at what it could mean and# whether it will deliver the savings people want.

LISA DESJARDINS: Amna, Florida plans# to import drugs to treat diabetes,## HIV and hepatitis C, among others.

That would lower state spending for things# like Medicaid and pr Florida officials believe it can save# them as much as $150 million a year.## State proposals to import drugs# finally gained traction in 2020,## after President Trump pushed to# make it easier for states to do so.

The following year, President# Biden issued an executive order## directing federal officials to move forward.

To help assess what this all could# mean, I'm joined b who studies all of this at the# Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.

Stacie, this decision, as we said,## has taken 20 years to get to STACIE DUSETZINA, Vanderbilt University: So I# think this has to be viewed in light of some# substantial challenges, but it is a big step# forward for people who have been interested## in doing drug importation in the United States,# for states who are thinking about this policy.

You could think of it as maybe# a door with multiple locks,## and this is unlocking one of those# first big locks with the FDA suggesting## that there is a path forward for# importation of drugs for Florida.

LISA DESJARDINS: You mentioned all these# locks.

I think we're going to get to those.

One of those I wonder about is who gets# -- who saves money her it will save them, but will this mean# cost savings for patients in Florida?

STACIE DUSETZINA: Not directly.

So one of th and that really focuses squarely on people# on Medicaid, in the state prison systems,## for example.

These are individuals who# usually don't have to pay as much out of## pocket when they're filling their prescriptions,## so it won't exactly provide direct financial# It could potentially have savings# for the state and for taxpayers,## but it really depends on the scope of# how many drugs we're talking about and## how much savings we really do see once you# put in place all of the protections that## are required to get this program off the# ground, which could be pretty substantial.

LISA DESJARDINS: As you're saying, the# details matter here, and it seems simple## at first.

Let's try and import drugs# that are less expensive But how about Canada?

What does Canada# think of this?

Will they go along?

STACIE DUSETZINA: They have historically# not been in favor of this, and have actually## tried to move forward legislation# to prevent some sharing of drugs## or allowing for importation of drugs# to the United States through Canada.

So I think this always is my first question when# historically we have seen this come up a couple## of times over the years, even with the Trump# administration, as you mentioned at the outset,## is, what does Canada think of the plan to import# drugs from Canada?

And often that's a nonstarter.

So this would be another one of those locks# on the door that I don't think has been## solved and really dampens my enthusiasm# for thinking that this would be a way## for the U.S. to save money, for states to# save money any time in the near future.

LISA DESJARDINS: Your enthusiasm may be dampened,## but there are other states that ar right now, we know of eight states at least# that are considering or have made it legal## to try and engage in this sort of program,# and I'm sure many others are considering it.

What you're saying here is that this# doesn't seem like this will affect right## now prices at the pharmacy for most# people.

But could a snowball effect## do that if many more states are able# to somehow bring in drugs from Canada?

STACIE DUSETZINA: I just think# it's highly unlikely that they## will be able to bring in the drugs through Canada.

And maybe one of the things that would be# im are really opposed to this type of importation# plan, because the U.S. pays more than Canada## for those same products from those same# companies.

So manufacturers may limit## the supply of drugs they sell to Canada, where# Canada would then have to take from their own## population's supply if they were going to allow# for importing -- us to import drugs from them.

So it makes me really skeptical, given the# opposition from manufacturers and from Canada,## that these plans would move forward.

There may be# many opportunities for states to look into this,## and I can understand the reason that this# is so popular is that the public really does## view importing drugs -- it seems very clear-cut# that you should be able to get drugs from other## countries, because those prices are lower and# they're the same drugs sold by the same companies.

So, from a political standpoint,## it's a very popular idea.

It's just# very difficult to oper LISA DESJARDINS: At the same time, something else# is happening.

The U.S. is about to be allowed to## directly negotiate with drug manufacturers on a# few drugs because of the Inflation Reduction Act.

How much bigger of an effect could# that have, do you think, briefly?

STACIE DUSETZINA: I think it's# going to be a much bigger effect.

And one reason is, is that, even# though it's in the Medicare program.

Medicare# is a primary payer for prescription## drugs.

It covers older adults and# those with permanent disabilities.

So that ends up being a group of Americans who# use more prescription drugs.

So I think th in total, the negotiations from the# Inflation Reduction Act will be a## cost savings for the U.S. and will lower our# spending on some very commonly used drugs,## which are the target of that legislation.

LISA DESJARDINS: Stacie Dusetzina,# thank you for helpin STACIE DUSETZINA: Thank you so much.