As the uncertainties surrounding comprehensive health care reform continue to grab headlines, few health actuaries would disagree that an important component of reform encompasses the current provider payment system. Many have argued that the current health care payment system does not contribute to desirable health care policy goals, but rather is a hindrance to them. Worthy benefits such as quality, efficiency, and cost effectiveness are viewed by many as at odds with the current payment system. Furthermore, perverse incentives have been created that reward expensive treatments and interventions over prevention and wellness. In light of the current situation, it is clear that there is room for improvement.

Statement of Topic

What is your vision of a financially sound, equitable, properly incentivized health care provider payment system? How could a reformed provider payment system, in part or whole, be achieved?

The Health Section's Research Committee is issuing this call for articles for the Health Section's newsletter Health Watch, inviting Health Section members and others to write an article related to an aspect of provider payment reform. One of the goals of this call for articles is to encourage both experienced actuaries and those who have more recently joined the profession to consider writing an article. As a result, a special category of monetary prizes has been created (please note only Health Section members are eligible for prizes). Articles may either address the topic as a whole or focus on a particular aspect. Articles may also focus a particular stakeholder in the health care industry, such as providers, insurers, or the government.

Examples of aspects that might be covered include, but are not necessarily limited to, the following:

• proper alignment of incentives among stakeholders
• simplification vs. complexity
• nationwide vs. regional considerations
• administrative issues
• information technology challenges
• government imposition of system vs. industry driven
• legal and regulatory challenges
• indexing
• price transparency and disclosure
• differential pricing
• spreads between billed versus contractual amounts

Please note these suggestions are only intended to serve as examples and are not meant to restrict potential ideas in any way.

Please submit your article via e–mail by June 7, 2010 to:

• Barbara Scott, Research Administrator
• Society of Actuaries
• e–mail: bscott@soa.org

Articles should be kept to a maximum of 2500 words, excluding the article title and author information, and should be in Microsoft Word file format. Author information must be submitted with the article and include name; credentials or designations (if appropriate); title; organization/company; years of employment as an actuary, if applicable (see Cash Award section for more details); e-mail address; and phone number. Please provide all author information at the beginning of the article. In the event that an article exceeds 2500 words, the article may be declined or returned to the author with a request for further editing and resubmission.

Articles will be considered for publication regardless of whether they qualify for or are chosen for an award. Articles that contain any overt political statements, commercial content, and other inappropriate material will not be accepted. Articles must comply with the Society of Actuaries' antitrust policy.

Articles will be evaluated on the basis of their originality, clarity, thoroughness, and practical applicability. Previously published articles will not be considered.

Submitted articles will be evaluated by a committee of reviewers for their potential for inclusion in an issue of Health Watch or potentially, a standalone collection of articles. If accepted, articles will be copy edited by Society of Actuaries staff in preparation for publication. Authors will be given an opportunity to review the articles after copy editing and prior to publication. In addition, authors of accepted articles must provide additional biographical information to assist in publicizing the article, if requested. The Health Section Research Committee reserves the right to reject or not publish any of the submitted articles.

Rights Granted

The article authors grant the Society of Actuaries the right to reprint, republish, and repackage their article.

A committee of reviewers will select up to four articles for monetary awards. There are two categories of awards: Best Overall Article

• $5,000 for First Place
• $3,000 for Second Place
• $1,000 for Third Place

Best Article written by a Health Section member who has been employed 5 years or less as an actuary.

• $2,000

Only Health Section members are eligible for prizes. Please note years of employment status with other author information at the beginning of the article. An author may be eligible for prizes in both categories, if applicable.

Please direct any questions regarding this Call for Articles to:

• Steven Siegel, Research Actuary
• Society of Actuaries
• ph. 847.706.3578
• e–mail: ssiegel@soa.org