The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit issued a split decision, reversing a lower federal court’s finding that two school employees lacked standing to bring a First Amendment claim against the school district. Henderson v. Springfield R-12 School District concerns a school district requiring its staff to attend an equity training program. In its reversal, the appellate court also vacated more than $312,000 Read More
Indiana Sues Eli Lilly Over Skyrocketing Insulin Prices
The state of Indiana has filed suit against Indiana-based drug manufacturer Eli Lilly and Co. for conspiring with other manufacturers and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) to artificially inflate insulin prices by more than 1,000% over the past ten years. The lawsuit, along with a similar suit filed against other insulin manufacturers and PBMs, comes after Indiana State Attorney General Todd Rokita says he has spent Read More
EEOC Pivots Focus on Anti-American, White Male Bias
After finally reaching a quorum after many months of inactivity, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is shifting to focus on what it refers to as “anti-American” bias. In December, EEOC chair Andrea Lucas posted a video on social media expressing an interest in hearing from white males experiencing race or sex discrimination in the workplace. A tutorial on anti-American discrimination and its Read More
New Alaska Law Permits State Regulation of PBMs and TPAs
As states increasingly seek ways to rein in pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), Alaska has enacted a law that allows the Alaska Division of Insurance to license and regulate PBMs. That law extends the Division’s equivalent licensing and regulatory powers to third-party administrators (TPAs), which help commercial, employer-sponsored self-insured, and government health plans administer benefits to plan Read More
Alabama Hospital Sues Blue Cross and Blue Shield for Millions in Underpayment of Claims
Jackson Hospital has sued Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama in an Alabama bankruptcy court for $250 million. The Montgomery-area hospital claims that years of claims underpayment by the insurance giant have directly contributed to its insolvency. Jackson Hospital, which has about 1,800 employees, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in February 2025 after defaulting on $60 million in bonds. Since its bankruptcy Read More
Aetna Settles Class Action by Covering Fertility Treatments for Same-Sex Couples in Class-Action Lawsuit
A California federal district court has approved a preliminary settlement agreement in a class-action lawsuit against Aetna over coverage for fertility treatments for same-sex couples versus heterosexual couples. As part of the settlement, Aetna will cover artificial insemination or in vitro fertilization for same-sex couples in the same manner as it does for heterosexual couples. Aetna will also pay $2 million in Read More
Bipartisan Coalition, ERIC Support PBM Fiduciary Bill
The ERISA Industry Committee is backing a pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) bill that would establish a fiduciary duty under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) for PBMs to put the interests of employer plan sponsors and participants ahead of their own. Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) and three bipartisan sponsors have proposed the PBM Fiduciary, Accountability, Integrity, and Reform Act, or the PBM FAIR Read More
January 2026 | PBM Reform Accelerates—And HBL Expands in San Francisco
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Federal Agencies Propose Amended Rules Relating to Price Transparency Reporting Requirements
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA), and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) have proposed rules on price transparency reporting requirements. The proposed rules would amend existing rules under the Public Health Service Act, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), and the Internal Revenue Code. The proposed rules would affect Read More
5th Circuit Panel Rules for Aramark in Finding Arbitration Clause Subject to Court Review in ERISA Case Against Aetna
A split three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit ruled that a federal district court should decide whether Aramark can proceed with its lawsuit against Aetna or must resolve the dispute through arbitration. According to the court’s ruling, the arbitration clause is sufficiently ambiguous to be subject to court review. Aetna, a subsidiary of CVS Health, has been Aramark’s third-party Read More
