Description: A proposal to address provider payment issues by gradually moving to accountable care organizations. Capitations would be risk-adjusted, non-capitated costs would be covered by hospitalization fund and stoploss, incentives for quality & effective preventive care would be tied to the amount remaining in the fund, and government involvement would be through incentives rather than mandate.

Description: A proposal to reform the health care provider payment system through: a national fee schedule, shifting more reimbursements to primary care providers, better integration of hospital & physician fees, evidence based care, pay for performance, and a better provider risk sharing mechanism.

Description: Discusses various aspects of allowing a health insurance policy approved in one state to be sold in another state without the latter's approval or oversight.

Description: This article defines LTC insurance and looks at the advantages large employers have to gain from group LTC. From Long-Term Care News, March 2006, Issue No. 17.

Description: This is the editor letter for this issue. It summarizes the contents of the articles in the newsletter and the theme of the issue.

Description: This article is based on a third party administrator study and explores the relationships between family structure, spare capacity and health care utilization.

Description: Summary of common mistakes made by actuaries developing ACA rate filings. Outlines correct approach to ACA rate filing process. Suggests Peer Review process.

Description: Discussion of the separate and joint effects of obesity and diabetes on disability and mortality, and ways these effects can be used to improved insurance pricing and reserving, reverse the increasing rates of obesity and diabetes, and improve current projections of disability and mortality risks.