Description: Blockchain technology has the potential to significantly improve the quality of life and overall health of the members of a health system, while also adding to administrative efficiencies. For the first time, we will have access to members’ entire diagnoses and prescription history, consumer behavioral attributes, and other socio-economic determinants which that are valuable inputs to designing appropriate benefits and proper care management plans. Through the blockchain, we will be able to access data not just of the existing members of the health system but also of potential enrollees and new entrants. The data can be accessed by querying the blockchain through a permissioned granted by the member. This information can be very useful in performing feasibility studies for evaluating entry into newer markets and/or newer products, developing customized care plans, and designing efficient value-based contracts. By executing smart contracts on the blockchain, we will be able to achieve administrative efficiencies like never before. The applications of blockchain technology are numerous and ground-breaking. Organizations that do not pay heed to the benefits that blockchain can bring may find themselves left behind as the rest of the industry marches forward in its quest for efficiency and member satisfaction.

Description: This document is a Request for Proposal (RFP) issued by the SOA Research Institute, seeking researchers to assess the impact of artificial intelligence on the insurance and healthcare industries in Asia, with specific research objectives, proposal requirements, selection process, submission guidelines, and appendix providing cost estimates.

Description: What are Biosimilar drugs? Are they the same as generic drugs? What potential impact might Biosimilars have in the United States prescription drug landscape and it’s economics? This article explores those questions as well as exclusivity and interchangeability.

Description: Article from The Actuary June 1993 – Volume 27, No. 6 is about psychiatric disability claims

Description: This article discusses the court cases dealing with the severability of the individual mandate from the Affordable Care Act. Severability is related to essentiality, and actuarial input was relied upon to determine essentiality. The article concludes with lessons that actuaries should learn from the legal proceedings.

Description: Pharmacy prices are top of mind for many consumers, policymakers, and payers. While there have been many efforts to reduce pharmacy costs over the years, many believe these efforts only helped us cope with the symptoms of the problem without providing a comprehensive cure for the underlying causes of this problem. The Society of Actuaries Health Section sponsored this Pharmacy Partnership Forum to gather multi-disciplinary experts in the pharmacy ecosystem. This report shares the insights and learnings that emerged from this group of health economics outcomes researchers, clinical pharmacists, medical doctors, health actuaries, benefits consultants and brokers, and their collective thoughts on advancing this exploration for society’s benefit.

Description: The coming wave of biosimilars could have a major impact on prescription drug spend in coming years. The big event of Humira biosimilar launches in 2023 will be significant in determining that ultimate impact. Payers are making coverage decisions. The more biosimilars are utilized, the greater the potential savings. How will biosimilar adoption be maximized?

Description: The Society of Actuaries (“SOA”) Research Institute is the research arm of the SOA, providing objective, data-driven research that brings together tried and true practices and future-focused approaches to address societal challenges and business needs. The Institute provides trusted knowledge, extensive experience and new technologies to help effectively identify, predict and manage risks.

Description: Health care has changed rapidly over the past couple of years. The pandemic has shifted consumer behavior in how and where they receive health care as well as consumer attitudes toward health care. Payers continue to design innovative solutions in responses to their patient’s needs and expectations. These changes in consumer behaviors and the responses by payers are expected to impact both health care cost and utilization. Discuss changes in health care that have emerged due to the pandemic and how they are expected to influence actuarial assumptions. Explore epidemiological models commonly used in the industry, the considerations when using these models, as well as the challenges with regards to gathering and interpreting relevant experience data. By attending this session, you will be able to: Identify shifts in consumer behavior that have emerged from the pandemic and describe how payers are responding to new patient expectations. Discuss how these post-pandemic changes by consumers and payers influence medical spending. Determine which actuarial assumptions are impacted and how and if the impact is expected to be temporary or permanent. Discuss considerations taken by actuaries and challenges faced when modelling actuarial assumptions post pandemic.

Description: This is a transcript of a 1982 meeting of the Health Section. Includes presentation and discussion of three papers: a. Cumulative Anti-selection Theory by William F. Bluhm b. Regulatory Monitoring of Individual Health Insurance Policy Experience by John B. Cummings c. Medical Care and Services in Canada by Frank G. Reynolds From Record Vol. 8, No. 4