To amend the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to ensure that pharmacy benefit managers are considered fiduciaries, and for other purposes.

# HR 6837 Summary **What the Bill Would Do:** This bill would change the legal status of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs)—the companies that manage prescription drug benefits for health insurance plans—by requiring them to be classified as "fiduciaries." This legal designation would mean PBMs must act in the best interests of the patients and employers whose prescription drug plans they manage, rather than prioritizing their own profits. Currently, PBMs operate with fewer legal obligations regarding conflicts of interest. **Who It Affects:** The bill would impact millions of Americans covered by employer health plans, as well as the employers that sponsor those plans. It would also directly affect PBMs and the pharmaceutical industry.

Supporters argue it protects patients by preventing PBMs from making decisions that benefit themselves at patients' expense (such as steering people toward expensive drugs). Critics in the industry contend it could increase costs or limit PBM flexibility. **Current Status:** The bill is currently in committee, meaning it has been introduced but not yet voted on by the full House of Representatives. It was sponsored by Representative Jake Auchincloss, a Democrat from Massachusetts.