In 2025, a new administration was sworn in, triggering a rapid succession of executive orders, regulatory action and policy changes. Throughout the year, we advocated to ensure that employers’ priorities, such as prescription drug affordability, transparency and telehealth coverage, were fully understood during meetings with high-level officials and policymakers from the White House, executive branch departments and Capitol Hill. The Business Group brings perspective on key issues, including downstream implications for employers, to guide decision makers as they address these policy areas. Our work on these topics is also reflected in written communications to leaders in Washington. 

Beyond bringing the employer voice to policy discussions, our in-house policy experts provided our members with regulatory, legislative and judicial updates to assist them with ensuring compliance amid the myriad of changing requirements. Through our regular public policy webinars as well as our policy alerts and newsletters, we provided timely insight into critical policy issues in light of the new administration and examined key policy areas affecting employers, such as potential risks to the tax-favored status of employer-sponsored health coverage. We also highlighted pertinent regulatory updates as well as government actions that carry potential implications for employer-sponsored health plans, including enhancements to health savings accounts (HSA). In addition to policy-specific events such as webinars, our policy team also actively engages with members through participation in our various Institute, Committee and Forum gatherings. Examples of our policy efforts include:

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Business Group and Coalition Urge Congress to Preserve Tax Status of Employer-Sponsored Coverage. We urged Congress to preserve the tax-free status of employer coverage and reject proposals that would raise health costs for working families.

Watch:

Throughout the year, we held monthly public policy webinars to keep employers and industry partners informed on the latest regulatory, legislative and policy changes.

Read:

Business Group on Health Submits Statement on Price Transparency and Pharmacy Benefit Manager Reforms. In this statement, we explained the importance of transparency in combating high prescription drug costs.

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Business Group on Health Comments on Proposed Rule Enhancing Coverage of Preventive Services Under ACA. We emphasized the need to maintain flexibility for employer-sponsored health plans and called for balanced policies that allow employers to design tailored, effective health care benefits.

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Business Group Submits Comments in Support of H.R. 2958, "Balance the Scales Act." We voiced our support for legislation that would increase transparency into EBSA's use of "common interest agreements."

Key Insight:

Throughout the year, we were selected to take part in meetings with legislators (Senate and House staff, including Committees), regulators (HHS, DOL) and the executive branch (White House) on a variety of issues pertinent to employers.

Convening:

Regularly, our policy work includes contributing issue-area updates and discussion sessions during Institute, Committee and Forum meetings. Whether an informal “coffee talk” or a detailed dive into the latest developments in pharmaceutical supply chain reforms and initiatives, we worked to keep members informed and engaged with Federal policy impacting employer health and welfare programs.