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: 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: This article looks at obesity in the United States and presents strategies for an Obesity Care Management Program. From Health Watch Newsletter, May 2006, Issue No. 52.

Description: Describes the Society of Actuaries' Research Expanding Boundaries Funding Pool and the application process for obtaining funds.

Description: A discussion of outrageous, criminal and soft fraud in health insurance.

Description: The impact of Medicare payments on retiree medical. Issue No. 46.

Description: Source: This document is a whitepaper sourced from a health insurance industry analysis. It provides a detailed overview of the evolution and strategic importance of voluntary benefits within employer-sponsored health plans in the United States. Intent: The paper aims to inform healthcare stakeholders—particularly employers, insurers, and HR professionals—about the role of voluntary benefits in filling coverage gaps left by major medical plans. It outlines the historical development, market drivers, regulatory context (especially post-ACA), and future trends, with a focus on personalization, digital integration, and financial protection. Value: This resource offers practical insights and strategic guidance for enhancing benefits design and employee engagement.

Description: PBMs are positioned in the healthcare delivery system as the only entity that is not regulated for profitability. The Commercial Fully Insured Health Insurance Plans are heavily regulated by the State Insurance Commissioner who allows only 2%-3% profit margin. The self-funded Health Plans are regulated by ERISA fiduciary responsibility that prohibits excessive compensation. PBMs are classed as a service provider and are not regulated by either. This allows PBMs to implement large, unreasonable mark ups for profit. PBMs are massive commercial entities, states are trying to sue under antitrust law. PBMs found a sweet spot in the regulation. Large Insurance Carries understood that and either acquired large PBMs or merged with them. It is likely that a combination of measures will be needed to regulate PBMs. The most direct approach would be for Congress to pass a law establishing PBM as a fiduciary under ERISA just like an “investment advisor” providing advice for a fee. Establishing PBM as a fiduciary will help Courts and other Federal Agencies ensure that PBMs do not unfairly retain rebates and inflate the prices of Rx drugs sold to employer health plans, and the US population in general.

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

Description: Preview of the May 2010 issue of Health Watch, with focus on the growing importance of actuaries, particularly in light of new developments in health care reform, clinical integration, enterprise risk management, and the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act.