Description: Through the sponsorship of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, The Society of Actuaries partnered with Wakely to use their health care data to study the effects of COVID-19 on overall health care claims for individuals with a COVID-19 diagnosis. The conclusion of the study is that individuals with COVID-19 claims had significant increases in health care costs leading up to their months of diagnosis, as well as in the months following their diagnosis. These effects were more pronounced for individuals who were hospitalized due to COVID-19 as well as for individuals with prior co-morbidities. Finally, the overall health care costs of these members plateaued at significantly higher levels than their pre-COVID baselines. In fact, all the main membership cohorts experienced claim levels that were at least 20% higher than their pre-COVID starting points.

Description: Fifty-three percent of Americans responding to a survey conducted by the Society of Actuaries (SOA) Research Institute reported that extreme weather events – including hurricanes, tornadoes, heatwaves, wildfires and flooding – have adversely affected their health.

Description: Kevin Pierce, FSA MAAA divesinto the Inflation Reduction Act’s impact on US drug pricing. He discusses two key provisions: Inflation rebates, where pharmaceutical manufacturers must pay rebates to the government if drug prices rise faster than inflation, and drug price negotiation by Medicare, set to commence in 2026 for selected drugs. Contributors: Kevin Pierce, FSA, MAAA, Deana Bell, FSA, MAAA Mitchell Momanyi, FSA, MAAA, Jon Forster, ASA, MAAA

Description: Prior to the global pandemic, investment in new health technologies had already reached an all-time high. As the world begins to emerge from COVID-19, what new technologies will next take root in the health care system and how will those affect medical costs? This session will review recent research from the SOA Health Section on how new technologies are spread and adopted. Particular focus will be given to emerging modes of consumer engagement and highly-focused gene and cell therapies that are breaking new ground in combating rare diseases. (We plan on focusing on 2 technologies like Consumerism or Telehealth & Gene & Cell Therapy depending on availability of speakers or if there are other sessions in this virtual meeting covering the same topic)

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

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: This article is about the cost-benefit relationship of advances in longevity and taking personal responsibility for one's own wellness.

Description: The momentum in value-based care has produced an opportunity for actuaries to become pioneers in health care

Description: As actuaries in health care, we spend most of our time focused on reviewing claims, enrollment and clinical data. That information is captured while patients are in health care facilities. Yet most people spend only a small fraction of their time in these facilities. This article explores what types of data are available to actuaries the provide a more holistic view of the member so that a members physical and emotional needs, the social determinants of health can be taken into consideration along with their clinical needs. Two uses cases are presented so actuaries can see how these types of analyses can be leveraged to improve clinical, operational, and financial performance of risk bearing health entities. Understanding the customer (member) not just the patient enables actuaries to provide new insights and values to our stakeholders across a wide range of business and risk applications.

Description: Hear from Kevin Pierce, FSA MAAA on the key components on the Inflation Reduction Act as it relates to Medicare Part D. Kevin is a Senior Consulting Actuary at Milliman and a top industry speaker on this subject. Kevin has extensive industry experience in actuarial, finance, and strategic projects, providing market intelligence and strategy support for clients across the health care industry. He outlines key provisions of the act, such as a complete redesign of the benefit, inflation rebate payments from pharmaceutical manufacturers,, and Medicare’s ability to negotiate drug prices. Kevin touches on the changes in costs and complexities for beneficiaries, pharmaceutical manufacturers, the federal government, and health insurers. Contributors: Kevin Pierce, FSA MAAA, Mitchell Momanyi, FSA, MAAA, Deana Bell, FSA, MAAA, Jon Forster, ASA, MAAA