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

House Bill

H.R. 6837

119th Congress

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

In Committee

Introduced:Dec 18, 2025

Primary Sponsor

Jake Auchincloss

D - MA

Cosponsors

0

Quick Stats

Policy Area

Health

Summary

This bill would require pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs)—the middlemen who negotiate drug prices between insurers and pharmacies—to act as fiduciaries under federal law. This means PBMs would be legally required to put the financial interests of patients and health plans first, rather than maximizing their own profits, when making decisions about prescription drug coverage and pricing.

Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

Introduced12/18/2025

StatusReferred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

ChamberHouse

Data from Congress.gov

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Vote Prediction

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

This bill would require pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs)—the middlemen who negotiate drug prices between insurers and pharmacies—to act as fiduciaries under federal law. This means PBMs would be legally required to put the financial interests of patients and h

Community Breakdown

Pass

0%

Fail

0%

0 predictions

This bill would require pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs)—the middlemen who negotiate drug prices between insurers and pharmacies—to act as fiduciaries under federal law. This means PBMs would be legally required to put the financial interests of patients and health plans first, rather than maximizing their own profits, when making decisions about prescription drug coverage and pricing.

Bill Number: 6837
Introduced: 12/18/2025
Status: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
Policy Area: Health

Data from Congress.gov

AI-generated summary

Fact Sheet

Title: To amend the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to ensure that pharmacy benefit managers are considered fiduciaries, and for other purposes.
Bill Number: 6837
Sponsor: No sponsor
Status: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
Introduced: 12/18/2025
Summary: This bill would require pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs)—the middlemen who negotiate drug prices between insurers and pharmacies—to act as fiduciaries under federal law. This means PBMs would be legally required to put the financial interests of patients and health plans first, rather than maximizin

Data from Congress.gov

AI Summary

Plain-English explanation of this bill

This bill would require pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs)—the middlemen who negotiate drug prices between insurers and pharmacies—to act as fiduciaries under federal law. This means PBMs would be legally required to put the financial interests of patients and health plans first, rather than maximizing their own profits, when making decisions about prescription drug coverage and pricing.

Last updated: 3/2/2026

Key Points

Main provisions of the bill

Requires pharmacy benefit managers to act as fiduciaries, meaning they must prioritize the best interests of patients and health plans over their own profits
Could increase transparency in prescription drug pricing by holding PBMs to higher legal standards of accountability
Addresses growing concerns about PBMs' role in high drug costs, as these companies currently operate with limited oversight despite controlling access to medications for millions of Americans
Would apply to employer-sponsored health plans covered under ERISA, potentially affecting how prescription benefits are managed for most working Americans

How This Impacts Americans

Potential effects on citizens and communities

This bill would primarily affect the estimated 275 million Americans with employer-sponsored health insurance by changing how their prescription drug benefits are managed. Patients could potentially see lower out-of-pocket costs and more transparent drug pricing if PBMs are forced to eliminate practices that prioritize their profits over patient savings. The pharmaceutical supply chain and insurance companies would also see significant changes in how drug benefits are negotiated and administered.

Policy Areas

Primary Policy Area

Health

Scope & Jurisdiction

Jurisdiction Level

federal

Congressional Session

119th Congress

Citation Reference

6837, 119th Congress (2025). "To amend the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to ensure that pharmacy benefit managers are considered fiduciaries, and for other purposes.". Source: Voter's Right Platform. https://votersright.org/bills/119-hr-6837