Description: Health Watch Newsletter, May 2006, Issue No. 52. This article presents information from a recently completed client-sponsored survey of hospital contracting best practices. Individual health plans were evaluated using a structured survey document. The primary objective of the survey was to identify best practices that the client sponsor could implement to improve its already better-than-average hospital contracting practices

Description: Attendees learn about the Patient's Bill of Rights, pressures on managed care programs and the strategies being used to address the changing dynamics of the managed care environments. From the Record of the Society of Actuaries, Volume 28, No. 2, Session 116

Description: This session discussion is about methods of managing care, what methods have been most effective, experience to date under managed care products, are savings being generated, employer acceptance of managed care products, provider acceptance of managed care products, what will future managed care programs look like. Includes a discussion on utilization review and management, From Record of the Society of Actuaries 1988 Vol. 14, No. 1.

Description: This presentation from Session 86PD of the SOA 1996 Orlando Annual Meeting provides the physician perspective on ethical questions resulting from utilization review decisions infringing on physician decisions in providing health care. From the Record of the Society of Actuaries, Vol. 22, No. 3.

Description: This analysis provides an overview of the functional components of the managed care system. It discusses the market forces underlying the United States’ system for health care financing and delivery and suggests how market forces impact the health care industry. The analysis focuses on societal goals for health care delivery and on managed care’s effectiveness in enabling achievement of those goals. The analysis develops and uses an innovative model developed to summarize the complex interplay among the many stakeholders, or participants, in the health care system. The model provides a framework for analysis of the many relationships among stakeholders. The analysis also highlights current issues in managed care, particularly the barriers that impede collaboration among stakeholders.

Description: This session is about managed-care provider networks: organizing networks, information needs, monitoring utilization and risk/reward methodologies. From Record of Society of Actuaries Vol. 19, No. 1A.

Description: Essays show a new system that will encompass minor changes to the current health insurance system, it will allow consumers to sign up for Federal Employees Health Benefit Plan and be administered like Medicare but with more benefits and emphasis on preventive care.

Description: Presented at April 1986 Spring Meeting. This session discussion is about the techniques for understanding and analyzing trends in medical care, including: utilization and cost components, analysis of cyclical behavior, use of econometric models, and aggregate trend vs. employer-specific needs.

Description: Our panelists discuss mechanisms to measure affordability, reducing costs through product design and other responses by plans, employers & providers. From the Record of the Society of Actuaries, Volume 29, No. 3, Session 82

Description: Essay reforming uninsured health care.