Description: The Part D program is funded through a variety of government subsidies and manufacturer discounts. The federal reinsurance, initially designed as protection from catastrophic spending, became a primary source of subsidies for the program. When the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) is fully implemented in 2025, the funding of Part D will realign to its original intent.

Description: Health care continues to move from a fee-for-service model to a value-based care model. Hear from our expert panel how actuaries can play key roles in designing and contracting value-based agreements, monitoring experience, and driving results, as well as measuring value. The discussion will cover different structures currently in use, types of services covered (total cost of care, claim service lines, specialties, condition based, pharmacy products, etc.) and nuances by market (Medicare FFS, Medicare Advantage, Commercial, Medicaid). Listen to presenters discuss latest innovations in the value-based care space, as well as how current events have impacted these contracts. In this interactive session you will also be able to ask our diverse panelists questions.

Description: The momentum towards value-based care has increased focus on how payers attribute accountability for the cost and quality of member care to providers. The current landscape has a myriad of methodologies and accountable parties. Examine the ideal future state of attribution discussing trade-offs in goals (e.g., population coverage vs. member influence), accountable parties (e.g., should third-party vendors be involved?), and methodologies.

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: "During the pandemic there has been provider burn out, early retirement, hospital consolidation, and lack of staff in step down facilities. It is taking longer to get appointments. Take a look at the impacts of this andat how this can affect quality ratings in Medicare. You can also explore meeting quality incentives in Medicaid and how the current requirements for these plan to say they have adequate networks. Will the provider shortage have an effect upon actuarial rate certifications? If so, how? Are there any forecasts for how long this shortage will last? What are the impacts to care giving to the Seniors and Medicaid beneficiaries as well as plan design changes? Those who are intermediate level Medicaid and Medicare actuaries are encouraged to attend. By attending this session, you will be able to: Have a good understanding of the current Medicare and Medicaid situation and its impacts Understand strategic ideas of how to keep quality of care and access to care available"

Description: Explore a general overview of the Medicare Advantage VBID hospice model, including program goal and a brief review of available information on plan participation in 2021 and 2022. Join us to learn how the program can support other elements related to health equity and address social determinants of health. You will be able to focus on how to improve quality of life and care using palliative, concurrent and/or transitional care and hospice services. Elevate your understanding with a summary of publicly available hospice experience data published by CMS, as well as a review of published research by the SOA and others related to hospice and end of life care. Finally, expect technical guidance regarding VBID model financial implications and proposed enhancements to the program as CMS transitions from the current model due to expire at end of 2024.

Description: There exists profound health and access disparities among people from different demographics and socioeconomic backgrounds. Health equity is now a central policy directive for the U.S. government and CMS. Speakers representing policy, health care delivery and actuarial spaces will help you discover what health equity policy directions may look like, the challenges health care providers are facing and how actuaries can contribute to the effort in bridging the health equity divides.

Description: Medical pharmacy is a rapidly evolving, innovative part of healthcare in the United States that includes Oncology, Gene, and Rare disease therapies. Over the past few years, cost and utilization trends have been disrupted by biosimilars, innovative therapies, site of care options, and the COVID-19 pandemic. This volatility can make assumption setting difficult, so take a deep dive into quantifying these impacts on the drug landscape. Gain an understanding of the significance of managing site of care. Learn through adjusted time-series forecasting where medical pharmacy drug spend is expected to grow with new drugs in the pipeline. Walk away with a better understanding of the market forces and care practices that drive trend, and how medical pharmacy is expected to change in the coming years.

Description: "Explore a general introduction to the opportunity of applying a relatively newer area in machine learning called uplift modeling, which has been successfully used in retail (Wayfair etc). The concepts are parallel to the intervention programs in health care, where we are interested in measuring the treatment effects and ultimately directing the right members to the most effective programs, driving the highest value for the programs both from a financial and health outcomes perspective. Uplift modeling can also be viewed in context of causal modeling where we are interested in assigning cause to a treatment relative to a member not receiving the treatment. Check out an introduction on the concept, seehow it relates and builds on existing work, and use a demo to showcase the potential of integrating this ML approach to current work."

Description: Address how Medicare and Medicaid are integrated in DSNP plans, including: - Coordination of benefits - Model of Care - Care Coordination - Licensure - Difference between DSNPs and MMP plans - Pricing Assumptions - New proposals for more integration By attending this session, you will be able to understand how DSNP plans are integrated between Medicaid and Medicare and what CMS is doing to integrate them further.