Description: In the past months, as COVID-19 has forced the reduced activity in the U.S. economy there has been some very substantial, but varied effects on the U.S. healthcare system. There is a lot of potential for confusion amongst providers and patients with regards to decisions related to which services ought to be rendered and which ought to be deferred. Two specific agencies – the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), and the American College of Surgeons (ACS) have put together some guidance to add more clarity towards what types of services should be provided and what types ought to be deferred. In addition, this paper includes a discussion on what types of services are most likely to be deferred, and which ones will accrue pent-up demand to be released when many of the deferred services become available again.

Description: The SIPF is issuing this call for essays to further explore the role of SI in providing health care coverage in the U. S. In issuing this call for essays, the SIPF aims to gather perspectives, opinions and data on the possible short and long-term consequences of current health-related SI programs and potential future ones.

Description: Two years ago, before COVID-19 changed everything about how we provide and receive health care, telehealth was largely provided by third-party vendors to treat a narrow range of acute one-and-done conditions. The value proposition was simple: a fast and easy member experience would drive satisfaction and engagement; high member satisfaction and engagement would drive health plan savings and member retention. Clearly, from the perspective of utilization, telehealth—as a viable alternative to in-person care during a pandemic—worked. And with COVID-19’s nudge—or was that a push?—toward cultural acceptance, the health care system is in a better position to capitalize on telehealth’s original promise of expanded access, lower cost and better outcomes than it was two years ago. But in the wake of the pandemic, it is just as clear to us that if telehealth is to live up to its full potential, some changes are needed. The rest of this article presents five ideas for improving the delivery of telehealth going forward.

Description: This article is a book review of Deaths of Despair and the Future of Capitalism written by Anne Case and Angus Deaton. The book highlights factors that have attributed to the decline in life expectancy in the U.S. over the past two decades. Overall, there has been a significant increase in deaths of despair from drug overdoses, suicides, and alcoholic liver disease that has impacted life expectancy. The review of this book highlights key points and factors in this increase in deaths of despair based on the research of the authors. From an actuarial perspective, this book identifies areas within the U.S. society and economy that would continue this trend and impact future mortality rates and improvement scales.

Description: Discusses the recent firing of the Social Security Commissioner and the president's legal authority to do so.

Description: Chairperson of the LTC Section reflects on his three-year term on the LTC Section Council.

Description: 2020 candidate questionnaire for Jennifer Gillespie

Description: Carol McCall led three teams – predictive analytics, health economics and outcomes research, and personalized medicine. The “river running through them” was that they all leveraged data. Her predictive analytics team eventually built a broad portfolio of models with some of them having a significant impact on Humana’s top and bottom lines.

Description: The purpose of this report is to review the existing literature on how today’s unprecedented access to data is reshaping the capabilities of insurance actuaries.

Description: View health Professional Development.