The Governing Board of the Western Pension & Benefits Council invites you to register for the following webinar:
Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs)—What Are They and How Do They Impact Drug Costs in Employer-Sponsored Plans?
Tuesday, May 19, 2026, 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM PDT
Speakers
Mary Powell, Attorney, Trucker Huss
Nathan Matthews, Senior Pharmacy Consultant, Segal
Continuing Education:
1 Hour of CE for the following:
AIF (pending), ASPPA, CA CPA, CA MCLE, CEBS, CFP (pending), ERPA, JBEA, NIPA
Registration:
$50 for active members of a WP&BC chapter
$65 non-members
Members, please login to get member rate. Contact your chapter for login credentials if needed.
Description
Prescription drug costs continue to rise at an alarming pace. A key factor behind these increases is the role of Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs). Understanding where PBMs fit within the drug pricing ecosystem is a critical responsibility for plan fiduciaries. This issue is underscored by a recent employee-filed complaint against JPMorgan—one that survived a motion to dismiss—alleging that the company and its benefits committee breached their fiduciary duties by approving unreasonable compensation arrangements with the PBM.
Learning Objectives:
- Understanding the basics of PBM and how they fit into the prescription drug ecosystem, influence cost, transparency, and plan expenses
- Identify fiduciary responsibilities of plans sponsors and benefits committees in overseeing PBM arrangements
- How the new transparency rules under the Affordable Care Act and the Consolidated Appropriations Act provide tools for employers to negotiate PBM contracts
- Recent case law regarding PBMs
Speakers
Mary Powell, Attorney, Trucker Huss
Mary is an attorney at Trucker Huss with more than 25 years of experience advising employers on all aspects of employee benefits. Currently, she focuses primarily on assisting employers with implementing the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 (CAA 2026) Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (CAA) and the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), negotiating pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) agreements, and advising on fiduciary issues related to health and welfare plans.
Mary is a Fellow of the American College of Employee Benefits Counsel, the highest level of recognition for an ERISA attorney. Selection as a Fellow reflects the College’s judgment that a nominee has made significant contributions to the advancement of the employee benefits field. She is also a Chambers-rated lawyer, has been recognized as a Top-Rated Employee Benefits Attorney by Northern California Super Lawyers since 2017, and has been recognized in Best Lawyers® in America.
Nathan Matthews, Senior Pharmacy Consultant, Segal
Nathan is a Senior Pharmacy Consultant, affiliated with Segal’s Washington, DC office. He has over 17 years’ experience delivering strategic guidance to enhance the performance, cost-efficiency, and clinical effectiveness of pharmacy benefits programs. Nathan has proven expertise in pharmacy benefits consulting, data-driven optimization, PBM procurement and regulatory compliance. He is skilled in leading end-to-end strategy development, from formulary design to vendor management, helping plan sponsors achieve measurable outcomes and long-term value. Nathan is adept at driving innovation in pharmacy benefit models through analytics, auditing, and industry best practices.
Thank you to our webinar sponsor!
