In a victory for employer plan sponsors, a federal court ruled that a Tennessee law regulating PBMs is preempted by ERISA.

As part of a growing congressional effort to address plan litigation and regulatory overreach, Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives have introduced two bills to promote transparency and uphold the voluntary nature of the private retirement system.

In a unanimous opinion issued April 17 in Cunningham v. Cornell University, the U.S. Supreme Court held that plaintiffs alleging a prohibited transaction under ERISA can proceed to discovery by merely stating that a plan hired a service provider, without first having to show that a statutory exemption does not apply.

In an April 15 executive order, the Trump White House put forth its plan for lowering prescription drug costs. The EO does not implement specific policy initiatives or requirements at this time, but directs federal officials to make recommendations and propose regulations that address prescription drug costs.

The Arkansas legislature recently passed HB 1150, which would ban PBM-affiliated pharmacies from operating in the state starting January 1, 2026. Citing the potential harm to employers and employees, the Council urged Governor Sanders to veto the bill.

The Arkansas legislature recently passed HB 1150, which would ban PBM-affiliated pharmacies from operating in the state starting January 1, 2026. Citing the potential harm to employers and employees, the Council urged Governor Sanders to veto the bill.

Legislation has been introduced in the Senate and House that would largely prohibit DOL from imposing limits on the types of investments permitted in retirement plan menus.

In this edition of Just a Minute!, Council President Katy Johnson describes recent research commissioned by the Council describing the potential impact of taxing employer-provided health coverage.

Don't miss the upcoming webinar on April 29 at 3 p.m., focusing on the latest legislative, regulatory and judicial developments related to employee benefits policy in Washington, D.C.

The American Benefits Council, through its amicus brief program, continues to push back against baseless class-action litigation alleging ERISA violations based on so-called “excessive” 401(k) plan fees.

The American Benefits Council held a webinar on April 10, 2025, to focus on state-level legislative and policy activity related to health benefits in 2025.

The Council continues to push for modifications to recently proposed regulations governing “catch-up” retirement contributions under SECURE 2.0, emphasizing that refinements are necessary to prevent compliance challenges and disruptions for employers and plan participants.