Description: Inflation and the possibility of recession are major factors affecting health care cost increases over the next five years. Insurance and medical organization will continue to evolve but are unlikely to create major shifts in the short run. However, over the long run structural changes in providers and payment mechanisms will determine future trends – raising or lowering the health share of GDP depending upon public choices and private decisions.

Description: "Advancing health equity is one of the five strategic objectives outlined in the CMS Innovation Center's strategic objectives for the next ten years and is an increasing area of focus across many states. Focus in on recent developments in addressing Medicaid beneficiary needs related to social determinants of health (SDOH), health-related social needs (HRSN), and health disparities and inequities in Medicaid. Several states have introduced non-traditional benefits into their programs in recent years to address these areas, such as various types of housing supports, nutrition-related benefits, and enhanced/advanced case management support. Expect a discussion on the benefits introduced recently in states such as AZ, CA, MA, NC, and OR, including funding considerations around these benefits as well as the 1115 demonstration waiver authorities granted to these states to allow coverage for these non-traditional health care services.

Description: "Examine the exciting possibilities for artificial intelligence (AI) in health care and its potential to transform the patient journey. You will learn about the various touchpoints where AI is being applied along the patient/care journey, including provider search tools, claims analysis, and fraud detection. By attending the session, you will be able to: Have a comprehensive understanding of the opportunities and challenges presented by AI in health care Evaluate the potential impact of AI on their own organizations Be equipped with strategies for effectively implementing AI solutions and maximizing their benefits for patients, providers, and payers"

Description: This article details the medical stop-loss coverages purchased by HMOs, small insurers and providers taking delegated financial risk in payor agreements. Along the way we will identify strategies purchasers often use to save money on medical stop-loss.

Description: This article on IPV focuses on IPV during the COVID-19 pandemic

Description: An overview of key considerations for benefit triggers in critical illness products

Description: With the 2024 presidential election one week in the rear-view mirror, actuaries and health policy experts will discuss the potential health policy implications in the next four years in relation to the election results. Focus will be on the changing dynamics within Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplaces with the knowledge benefit of the next president having administrative experience in the ACA environment. Session attendees will be well-equipped to discuss the post-ACA health policy implementation of presidents Biden and Trump, recent policy proposals, and potential legislative/regulatory changes as a result of the 2024 election outcomes.

Description: The coming wave of biosimilars could dramatically affect prescription drug costs and benefit strategies over the next several years. The launch of many Humira biosimilars in 2023 is the Big Event that will largely determine the impact of the biosimilar wave. Payers have many decisions to make about coverage and formulary tiers. What factors will drive payer decision-making?

Description: A look back at 2024, reviewing and highlighting the things that the SOA Health Section Council accomplished, including education, research, webcasts, networking, and a new Health Section Council action plan that will be used on an ongoing basis to target, track, and measure areas of focus for the council, to better serve membership.

Description: In this session, we will delve into the application of survey data analytics to extract valuable insights from public survey datasets. The discussion will start with the basics of survey design, sampling practices, and estimation of key statistics. Three case studies will be presented: one in the realm of population health and another in medical economics, both demonstrating the use of either SAS or R to perform the survey analytics.