Jake Auchincloss (D-MA)
To amend the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to ensure that pharmacy benefit managers are considered fiduciaries, and for other purposes.
A Democratic bill with 1 Republican cosponsor · See all 2 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill proposes several amendments to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. It aims to classify pharmacy benefit managers as fiduciaries if they maintain drug provider networks or engage in activities like negotiating rebates and processing claims. Additionally, it requires specific compensation disclosures for pharmacy benefit management and third-party administrative services. The bill also clarifies that a covered service provider cannot be the responsible plan fiduciary. Finally, it prohibits certain fiduciaries from being indemnified or relieved of their legal liabilities.
Yes· 3 of 4
- Scored +5
Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices?
The bill increases consumer protection by classifying pharmacy benefit managers as fiduciaries and requiring compensation disclosures.
- Scored +4
Does this lower the price of prescription medicines?
By establishing fiduciary duties and transparency for pharmacy benefit managers, the bill aims to mitigate costs related to drug rebate negotiations and provider networks.
- Scored +3
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
Increased transparency and fiduciary standards for drug managers may help control costs for health plans often utilized by lower-income workers.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Establishment of Fiduciary Duties: By deeming pharmacy benefit managers as fiduciaries, they would be held to specific legal standards when maintaining drug provider networks, negotiating rebates, or processing claims (Section 1(a)).
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Increased Transparency via Disclosures: The bill requires pharmacy benefit managers and third-party administrators to disclose compensation they reasonably expect to receive, which provides more clarity regarding the costs of managing drug networks and health claims (Section 1(b)).
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Increased Accountability: The bill prohibits certain fiduciaries from being indemnified or relieved from their responsibilities or liabilities, and declares any contract attempting to do so as void (Section 1(d)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No negative impacts or burdens are explicitly stated in the provided text.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Increased transparency and fiduciary standards for drug managers may help control costs for health plans often utilized by lower-income workers. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — The bill's transparency requirements may help reduce the hidden costs of prescription drug management for employer-sponsored health plans.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices? — The bill increases consumer protection by classifying pharmacy benefit managers as fiduciaries and requiring compensation disclosures.
- Healthcare
- Does this lower the price of prescription medicines? — By establishing fiduciary duties and transparency for pharmacy benefit managers, the bill aims to mitigate costs related to drug rebate negotiations and provider networks.
- 10/9/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 12/18/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Ryan MackenzieRepublican · Pennsylvania
Shri ThanedarDemocrat · Michigan