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: Chairperson's views on SIPF section's new mission statement approved by the SOA Board.

Description: This article introduces the special rules that apply to employees of state and local governments that choose to be covered by the U.S. Social Security program.

Description: Feature article discussing how Social Security benefits are computed for some government employees.

Description: Description of Social Security COLA for December 2020 and wage-indexed program parameters for 2021.

Description: This article reviews a paper developed by Rob Brown on the optimal design of retirement income security systems. The article intends to move readers to read Brown's article and consider how actuaries can play a significant role in the development and evaluation of social insurance policy. This will be of value to actuaries as the profession is presented the opportunity to participate in shaping financial security for all people.

Description: A listing of publications dealing with health insurance, public pensions and taxes 3 separate abstracts on 3 subjects, not related to each other

Description: Discussion of some of the debated aspects of the new health care law from an actuarial principles perspective.

Description: Letter from the editor discussing the articles in the June issue of In The Public Interest.

Description: This article examines the concept of Actuarial Value, especially as it applies to the Medicare plan of benefits. It discusses the cost-sharing responsibility of Medicare beneficiaries and the means by which they mitigate this risk.