Healthcare cost & quality

Employers have undertaken a range of initiatives in recent years to address the health challenges faced by different segments of their populations, from care access and affordability to chronic disease. In today’s shifting environment, it’s important to remember that the overarching goal of all such initiatives is simply better health for more people. Mercer’s Vicky Walton discusses how to develop targeted strategies for maximum impact.

Sometimes the riskiest thing to do is nothing at all.  With the healthcare cost trend rising faster than it has in years, it may be time to think seriously about a fundamentally different approach. We paired an actuary and a physician – Tyler Harshey and Dr. Prachi Nagda – to walk you through six provider network strategies, arranged from least to most disruptive.

John Luce discusses how some organizations are beginning to unlock the potential of virtual replicas.

At the 2025 World Economic Forum Annual Meeting, global business and health leaders convened to discuss the immediate and long-term actions required to mitigate climate-driven health risks.

From economic volatility to unequal access to work flexibility, Mercer’s latest employee survey found a perfect storm of issues has eroded engagement among hourly workers.

The latest mental health parity report identifies the types of nonquantitative treatment limits that are top enforcement priorities, and provides many specific examples of noncompliance and plan corrections.

Mercer’s Kate Brown, head of our Center for Health Innovation, kicks off a series of posts on the use of AI in health benefits with a discussion of where we are now with AI, and where we might be going.

The new year has just begun but it’s already time to begin planning for 2026. In this environment, quick fixes won’t accomplish much – a thoughtful multi-year strategy is likely the best path to optimal value for employees and the business. As you embark on planning for 2026 and beyond, we’re offering a list of five strategic planning “resolutions” – some guidelines for addressing the health program challenges of the coming years.

Key healthcare lawmakers are working to revive a bipartisan package that failed to make it into a December government funding bill that includes extended telehealth relief and PBM reforms for employer plans, but the outlook is unclear.

Mercer health leaders have joined with colleagues from Marsh and Guy Carpenter to launch a new paper on the urgent need for businesses, governments and finance sectors to work together to transform society’s approach to heat risk management.

Mercer’s flagship annual National Survey of Employer-Sponsored Health Plans rolled out this week, and as always there was a lot to unpack.

Tracy Watts shares five things employers can do to help the US move closer to ending HIV by 2030.

The Health Action Alliance created the Commission in partnership with Mercer, with strategic input from the CDC Foundation and additional support from Elevance Health and The Hartford.

Insurance carriers have increased their attention when it comes to the collection and leveraging of employee data to improve member experience.

HIV has a disproportionate impact on Black, Latino and LGBTQ+ communities, making its treatment a great opportunity for improving health equity.