Event Highlights
News from the SOA Health Meeting: Author says to focus on positive to reach professional success
Shawn Achor, author of The Happiness Advantage and founder of Good Think Inc., said Tuesday that a key to long-term happiness is training the brain to devote its finite resources to the positive–which can change the present reality. And happiness, he said, is linked to personal and professional success. Achor, speaking during the lunch program to SOA 2011 Health Meeting attendees, also discussed what he called the "cult of the average" and how focusing societal attention on average performance makes overall achievement more average. He provided attendees with five tools to increase happiness–gratitude, journaling, exercise, meditation and random acts of kindness. He reminded the audience that happiness is a choice, happiness spreads to others and provides advantages in achieving long-term success.
News from the SOA Health Meeting: Health Affairs editor-in-chief predicts Affordable Care Act will not be repealed
Editor-in-Chief Susan Dentzer said today it was unlikely that health care reform would be repealed, in spite of the efforts by the newly elected Republican-led House of Representatives. Dentzer, addressing attendees at the Health Meeting luncheon, gave an overview of the multitude of changes that have been enacted and those that have yet to be implemented from the health care reform act. She discussed the simplified structure of health reform and its impact, as well as the numerous initiatives which make up the act. Dentzer offered insight on accountable care organizations and their structure–and the development of innovations through the new health care initiatives.
News from the SOA Health Meeting: SOA President kicks off largest Health Meeting ever
This year's Health Meeting got under way with the largest attendance in its history–more than 900 attendees! SOA President Donald J. Segal, speaking to the sold out crowd, highlighted three important topics. He discussed the importance of the Health Actuarial Research Initiative, which the SOA has funded for the 2011 and 2012 fiscal years. The initiative will use insight and information from the Affordable Care Act to study the impact of the recent changes to the health care system. Segal also reviewed the proposed changes to the Joint Disciplinary Process and outlined the significance of the changes, while commenting on the importance of retaining the useful features that are currently in place. Finally, Segal ended his talk by spotlighting the SOA's increased ability to communicate with members using social networking. The SOA has thrown its hat into the social media ring with new pathways for communication–including Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, mobile meeting apps, blogging and an increasing use of Web-based video. Stay tuned for further ways to connect and provide your feedback to the SOA.
News from the SOA Health Meeting: Happy birthday, Health Section!
The SOA would like to congratulate the Health Section, which is celebrating its 30th year. A sold out crowd at the Health Meeting is a great way to celebrate–and the Health Section will be celebrating throughout the meeting with various activities. The Health Section and its initiatives have impacted a wide variety of important issues within the actuarial profession and across our society. Congratulations–the SOA expects many more years of new ideas and forward thinking from the Health Section and its volunteers!
News from the SOA Health Meeting: Chief actuary, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid: Actuarial Code of Conduct, strong actuarial ethics can impact politics
Rick Foster, chief actuary for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, discussed adding actuarial value in the age of partisanship, during the opening general session of the Health Meeting. Speaking about his experience receiving pressure (including a threat to his job) to provide biased or incomplete information for the purpose of political expediency, Foster discussed how he withstood this pressure. He also discussed the increasing inclination of many politicians to disregard technical information. He suggested that actuaries wishing to combat this trend support leaders who address financial problems without partisanship. He urged actuaries to use the actuarial Code of Conduct, being vigilant and vocal–and hold leaders accountable.
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