CNBC's Melissa Lee talks dangerous prescription drug practices in new investigative doc Risky RX

Industry Problem - US prescription drug prices average nearly three times more than in other countries, leading individuals and employers to seek solutions [1] - A cottage industry has emerged, sourcing drugs overseas at a fraction of the cost, but this practice is illegal and potentially puts American lives at risk [2][3] - Employers, especially small businesses, municipalities, and school boards, are seeking cost savings in healthcare [4] Alternative Funding Programs (AFPs) - AFPs carve out coverage for expensive specialty medicines (e g, cancer, multiple sclerosis, cystic fibrosis) and source medications from overseas [5] - AFPs are paid through a flat fee or a percentage of the savings [5] - Patients may not know if the medicine they receive is safe, effective, or real, despite obtaining it through their insurance plan [6][7] Legal and Safety Concerns - The FDA states that importing drugs available and sold in the US is illegal [3] - There are concerns about the safety, effectiveness, and quality of drugs sourced from overseas [3][6] - A case involves Meritane Health (a division of Aetna, owned by CVS) outsourcing coverage, resulting in a patient receiving HIV medication from a Turkish pharmacy with Turkish packaging and instructions [8] Systemic Issues - Patients often have no choice but to participate in these programs, as opting out means paying for specialty medications out of pocket, which is often prohibitive [10][11] - The situation is born out of a broken healthcare system [11] - Extensive investigation involving over 100 public records requests and review of 10,000 documents revealed the challenges patients face [10]