Description: The presenters will compare and contrast the Canadian public (and, to a lesser extent, private) health care system in juxtaposition to U.S. health care. Specialized knowledge of either system is not required. The presentation will focus on cost containment strategies balanced against effective health care services. Differentiation of strategies, such as wellness and prevention in contrast to diagnosis and treatment, will be discussed.

Description: An overview of the issues behind reimbursing providers on a bundled or packaged basis. The article presents the potential advantages offered by the proponents as well as the criticisms and obstacles to implementing this type of payment system.

Description: Summary of Medicaid encounter data, including how it is collected by health plans, transferred to state databases, used by states, and ultimately sent to CMS. The status of the CMS T-MSIS project is discussed, as well as the future of Medicaid encounter data as a source of information for many stakeholders.

Description: Discussion of recent developments in the taxation of noncoordinated benefits such as fixed indemnity, hospital indemnity, and specified disease insurance policies. Developments include a recent Chief Counsel Advice Memorandum and proposed triagency rulemaking that would impact non coordinated benefits.

Description: This article talks about the challenges facing the FDA, especially those arising from the globalization of the pharmaceutical supply chain.

Description: Review of a research project, co-sponsored by the SOA, which examined 83 organizations and over 150 programs that measure the quality and efficiency of hospitals and physicians.

Description: Analysis of the impact of disease progression and treatment on life expectancy provides perspective on the long term costs to the health care system of chronic medical conditions.

Description: This article from major US payers describes palliative care as a scaleable means of improving quality and reducing costs during serious and complex illness.

Description: Essays show a new system that will encompass minor changes to the current health insurance system, it will allow consumers to sign up for Federal Employees Health Benefit Plan and be administered like Medicare but with more benefits and emphasis on preventive care.

Description: Presenter examines federal and state efforts at parity in the area of mental health insurance. From the Record of the Society of Actuaries, Vol. 24, No. 2.