Marsh McLennan Agency Launches Network Navigator for Healthcare Insights
Marsh McLennan Agency has recently launched Network Navigator, a groundbreaking tool that empowers employers with enhanced healthcare pricing insights derived from current price transparency data. This innovative solution equips plan sponsors with crucial data for informed decision-making across all phases of their health insurance planning, from renewals to strategic initiatives.
Network Navigator processes data as required by the 2020 Transparency in Coverage rules set forth by the Departments of Health and Human Services, Labor, and Treasury, delivering actuarially-certified insights at the provider level. Employers can analyze and benchmark costs based on a variety of factors such as provider, location, service type, and specialty. This strategic tool is available exclusively to Marsh clients at no extra cost, enhancing their risk management capabilities.
Amidst evolving regulatory compliance requirements, federal agencies have proposed changes to the 2020 regulations to include new disclosure files and enhanced data elements, aligning more closely with hospital pricing transparency standards. These adjustments would demand disclosure of detailed pricing structures and utilization trends by sponsors of ERISA-covered health plans and insurance issuers.
Initial comments on these proposed regulatory changes were due by March 2, following an extension from the original deadline. By the latest count, 117 public comments were submitted, reflecting industry engagement with policy shifts. The American Benefits Council, representing the interests of employer-sponsored benefit stakeholders, lauded efforts to enhance transparency while cautioning against complexities that may burden employers disproportionately.
Kate Moher, President of National Employee Health and Benefits at Marsh McLennan Agency, emphasized the critical role of transparency: “In the complex world of healthcare pricing, clarity is incredibly valuable. Detailed provider-specific data from Network Navigator ensures that employers can lead their employees to cost-effective, high-quality, and in-network care that meets desired health outcomes.”
Data from a survey by Brown & Brown Inc., released in December 2025, revealed that controlling healthcare costs is a primary objective for 42% of employers. Furthermore, projections from the Business Group on Health indicate an anticipated 9% rise in healthcare costs for 2026. The Brown & Brown survey incorporated inputs from 1,241 large U.S.-based employers, while the Business Group on Health's survey included 121 employers providing coverage for 7.4 million Americans under employer-sponsored plans.