Description: The editor of Health Watch previews the articles in this issue.

Description: This session will recap the history of the involvement of the actuarial profession in the debates on health care reform. From the Record of the Society of Actuaries, Vol. 21, No. 4b.

Description: Article describes several options for limiting increases in health care costs and urges actuarial profession to be more proactive in asdvocating for reform.

Description: This session is about the details of the inception and implementation of the Oregon Health Plan. From Record of Society of Actuaries Vol. 18, No. 1B.

Description: Three long-term care claimants lead very full lives, thanks to making the most of their employer-sponsored group long-term care insurance coverage, in terms of using it through intelligent and conservative benefit utilization.

Description: Summary of pending legislation in response to looming crisis in the Long Term Vare market.

Description: Report on the proceedings of the 2010 Long Term Care Think Tank Session, whose goals were to discuss the major issues and challenges facing the LTC insurance industry, and to formulate action items and initiatives to help the industry move ahead. Focus was on understanding the needs & affordability capabilities of different market segments, the limited variety of product designs, shrinking distribution force, regulation and public policy, implications of the CLASS Act, and ideas for educating consumers and marketing products.

Description: Discussion of direct primary care and how it helps with several challenges in health care today. DPC improves care coordination, improves outcomes, improves doctor and patient satisfaction, and reduces spending. DPC successes promote the view that primary care should not be covered by insurance; rather, it should be paid for directly.

Description: An actuaries' view of what happened to health care reform and the future of reform.

Description: Rhode Island’s unique “global Medicaid waiver” pursues a potentially dangerous national policy trend: long-term care LTC rebalancing without strong eligibility controls. Resulting cost overruns could seriously damage the state’s social safety net. To maximize the global waiver’s opportunity, minimize its danger, and become a LTC financing model for the country, policy makers need to recognize the issues discussed in this report and pursue the recommended additional research and analysis.