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During a recent Hill visit, we asked lawmakers to support increased flexibility to give employees greater choice.","otherTagsId":[]},{"title":"2021 Planning: 10 Key Questions to Get You Started","articleTag":"Healthcare Cost \u0026 Quality","imageURL":"/content/dam/mercer/assets/social-media/1027746460-social-media-1200x630.jpg","pageUrl":"/content/mercer/north-america/us/en/our-thinking/healthcare/2021-planning-10-key-questions-to-get-you-started.html","kickerTitle":"Strategic Planning","authorTagId":["Tracy Watts"],"publishDate":"Jan 23 2020","description":"Many employers feel they’ve maxed out on healthcare cost-shifting to plan members. 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In a surprise move,","otherTagsId":[]},{"title":"Google in the News – and What it May Mean for Consumer Health Data ","articleTag":"Innovation","imageURL":"/content/dam/mercer/assets/brandimages/AdobeStock-215658392-1200x630.jpg","pageUrl":"/content/mercer/north-america/us/en/our-thinking/healthcare/google-in-the-news-and-what-it-may-mean-for-consumer-health-data.html","kickerTitle":"Data and Technology","authorTagId":["Tracy Watts"],"publishDate":"Nov 14 2019","description":"What’s important to know is that once a patient has his or her own health data, that data is no longer covered by HIPAA for privacy reasons.","otherTagsId":["Tracy Watts"]},{"title":"Heard @ HLTH: Washington Insiders Discuss the Hottest Policy Topics","articleTag":"Health Law \u0026 Policy","imageURL":"/content/dam/mercer/assets/brandimages/668171738-1200x630.jpg","pageUrl":"/content/mercer/north-america/us/en/our-thinking/healthcare/heard-at-hlth-washington-insiders-discuss-the-hottest-policy-topics.html","kickerTitle":"HLTH","authorTagId":["Tracy Watts"],"publishDate":"Nov 14 2019","description":"Tracy Watts recaps the hottest policy issues discussed at the HLTH Conference – Medicare for All and Surprise Medical Bills.","otherTagsId":["Tracy Watts"]},{"title":"‘CLICK’ To Repeal Caddy Tax","articleTag":"","imageURL":"/content/dam/mercer/assets/social-media/109432754-social-media-1200x630.jpg","pageUrl":"/content/mercer/north-america/us/en/our-thinking/healthcare/click-to-repeal-caddy-tax.html","kickerTitle":"ACA Cadillac Tax","authorTagId":["Tracy Watts"],"publishDate":"Oct 24 2019","description":"We’re so close to repealing the Cadillac Tax that we can taste it. Earlier this year a repeal bill passed in the House with an overwhelming majority, and a simi","otherTagsId":[]},{"title":"Checklist: Open Enrollment Messages","articleTag":"Engagement","imageURL":"/content/dam/mercer/assets/social-media/506513452-social-media-1200x630.jpg","pageUrl":"/content/mercer/north-america/us/en/our-thinking/healthcare/checklist-open-enrollment-messages.html","kickerTitle":"Open Enrollment","authorTagId":["Tracy Watts"],"publishDate":"Oct 03 2019","description":"Open enrollment season is around the corner – which means it’s time to educate your employees on how to make informed decisions that will best benefit themselves and their families. 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Mercer’s Tracy Watts shares a few creative things employers can do to show some love for your employees’ furry friends. ","otherTagsId":["Tracy Watts"]},{"title":"On the Horizon: A Breakthrough in Consumer Medical Data","articleTag":"Innovation","imageURL":"/content/dam/mercer/assets/social-media/547016589-social-media-1200x630.jpg","pageUrl":"/content/mercer/north-america/us/en/our-thinking/healthcare/on-the-horizon-a-breakthrough-in-consumer-medical-data.html","kickerTitle":"Innovation","authorTagId":["Tracy Watts"],"publishDate":"Aug 15 2019","description":"Tech giants are aligning with key healthcare stakeholders to make it easier for patients to access their medical data. Here’s what we know so far…","otherTagsId":["Tracy Watts"]},{"title":"Millennial Doctors – What To Expect?","articleTag":"Healthcare Cost \u0026 Quality","imageURL":"/content/dam/mercer/assets/brandimages/GettyImages-946923850-1200x630.jpg","pageUrl":"/content/mercer/north-america/us/en/our-thinking/healthcare/millennial-doctors-what-to-expect.html","kickerTitle":"Healthcare Quality","authorTagId":["Tracy Watts"],"publishDate":"Aug 08 2019","description":"Millennials tend to get a bad rap when it comes to workplace expectations, but this infographic by Visual Capitalist proves otherwise. The infographic offers a glimpse into how physicians of the future work and how millennial doctors are disrupting the industry and transforming medicine. ","otherTagsId":["Tracy Watts"]},{"title":"Direct Primary Care as a Strategy to Manage Cost","articleTag":"Healthcare Cost \u0026 Quality","imageURL":"/content/dam/mercer/assets/social-media/932074828-social-media-1200x630.jpg","pageUrl":"/content/mercer/north-america/us/en/our-thinking/healthcare/direct-primary-care-as-a-strategy-to-manage-cost.html","kickerTitle":"Healthcare Costs","authorTagId":["Tracy Watts"],"publishDate":"Aug 01 2019","description":"Mercer primary care physicians say direct primary care ensures regular check-ups, preventive care and consultations before seeking more intensive care.","otherTagsId":["Tracy Watts"]},{"title":"Mercer, Stakeholders Brief Congress on Ending Surprise Billing through Market-based Reform","articleTag":"Health Law \u0026 Policy","imageURL":"/content/dam/mercer/Images_PR/US/US Health 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consumers and managing cost has been issued.","otherTagsId":["Tracy Watts"]},{"title":"RAND Study on Hospital Prices: The Takeaway for Employers","articleTag":"Healthcare Cost \u0026 Quality","imageURL":"/content/dam/mercer/assets/social-media/163392141-social-media-1200x630.jpg","pageUrl":"/content/mercer/north-america/us/en/our-thinking/healthcare/rand-study-on-hospital-prices-the-takeaway-for-employers.html","kickerTitle":"Hospital Prices","authorTagId":["Tracy Watts"],"publishDate":"May 16 2019","description":"A major study regarding the variance between prices paid for employer health plans, private health insurance plans and Medicare reveals signifcant disparities.","otherTagsId":["Tracy Watts"]},{"title":"Direct Contracts Blaze a Trail to Higher-Value Healthcare","articleTag":"Healthcare Cost \u0026 Quality","imageURL":"/content/dam/mercer/assets/social-media/547016209-social-media-1200x630.jpg","pageUrl":"/content/mercer/north-america/us/en/our-thinking/healthcare/direct-contracts-blaze-a-trail-to-higher-value-healthcare.html","kickerTitle":"Employer Strategies","authorTagId":["Tracy Watts"],"publishDate":"Apr 25 2019","description":"Big employers like Lowe’s, GE and McKesson blaze contracting trails on their own and are saving by negotiating healthcare contracts directly with providers.","otherTagsId":["Tracy Watts"]},{"title":"Are Out-of-Network Benefits Soon to Become Obsolete?","articleTag":"Benefit Flexibility","imageURL":"/content/dam/mercer/assets/brandimages/us-2018-defined-contribution-investment-philosophy-insight-3.jpg","pageUrl":"/content/mercer/north-america/us/en/our-thinking/healthcare/are-out-of-network-benefits-soon-to-become-obsolete.html","kickerTitle":"Network Utilization","authorTagId":["Tracy Watts"],"publishDate":"Mar 14 2019","description":"Eliminating out of network benefits may be an effective strategy for some employers, but not all.","otherTagsId":["Tracy Watts"]},{"title":"Employers Asked to Sign Letter to Support ‘Cadillac Tax’ Repeal","articleTag":"Health Law \u0026 Policy","imageURL":"/content/dam/mercer/assets/social-media/gl-2016-us-election-impact-on-business.jpg","pageUrl":"/content/mercer/north-america/us/en/our-thinking/healthcare/employers-asked-to-sign-letter-to-support-cadillac-tax-repeal.html","kickerTitle":"Cadillac Tax","authorTagId":["Tracy Watts"],"publishDate":"Jan 31 2019","description":"Alliance to Fight the 40 asking employers to sign on to a group letter to Congress supporting Cadillac tax repeal.","otherTagsId":["Tracy Watts"]},{"title":"Starting from $0: Help Employees Minimize Health Costs Pre-Deductible","articleTag":"Healthcare Cost \u0026 Quality","imageURL":"/content/dam/mercer/assets/social-media/107429894-social-media-1200x630.jpg","pageUrl":"/content/mercer/north-america/us/en/our-thinking/healthcare/help-employees-minimize-health-costs-pre-deductible.html","kickerTitle":"Consumerism","authorTagId":["Tracy Watts"],"publishDate":"Jan 11 2019","description":"Some ideas that could help employees better manage out-of-pocket expenses due to high-deductible plans.","otherTagsId":["Tracy Watts"]},{"title":"Employers Will Face Difficult Decisions if ACA Ruling Stands","articleTag":"Health Law \u0026 Policy","imageURL":"/content/dam/mercer/assets/social-media/gl-2016-us-election-impact-on-business.jpg","pageUrl":"/content/mercer/north-america/us/en/our-thinking/healthcare/employers-will-face-difficult-decisions-if-aca-ruling-stands.html","kickerTitle":"Affordable Care Act","authorTagId":["Tracy Watts"],"publishDate":"Dec 17 2018","description":"Texas ACA ruling appealed to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. 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