Description: Futurism section members participated in this Delphi study, which had multiple choice questions on a range of life, health, economic and professional issues. The article provides background on the study and comments on the predictions of participants for 2010 (and 2050) in light of experience to date.

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: A rethinking of current provider reimbursement, focusing on incentives instead of simply cutting fees. The recommended 2-pronged approach would feature integrated provider organizations as well as evidence-based decision making organized around episodes of care.

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: Provides a technique for carrying out investment performance attribution reporting which provides stable, consistent results without residuals. Provides simple examples and a mathematical defense of the method. Illustrates implementation using numerical integration. Provides guidance to limit application of the technique when there are discontinuities in the underlying exposure.

Description: A suggestion to review and reassess LTC pricing of the last three decades, in light of dangerously inadequate ratesetting in the early years, and the NAIC's introduction of a model rate stability law.

Description: As private payers ponders the early adoption of genomic testing to guide treatment pathways, can personalized approaches to care prove financially sound?

Description: Constant Proportion Portfolio Insurance (CPPI) performance is assessed on realistic assumptions and dynamic strategies to mitigate the so-called ”gap risk”.

Description: Business transformation initiatives are undertaken by enterprises to reduce the risk of misalignment and to build agility and adaptability to market changes. The predictability of desired outcomes needs to be managed by mitigating interdependent risks associated with changes in processes, systems, operating procedures, employee and customer base, etc. This paper is about a strong risk management approach needed for minimizing the unpredictability associated with transformation-related initiatives. This proposed approach details a comprehensive model to measure enterprise risk management maturity by measuring its ability to identify risk, measure impact and define mitigation strategy. The model is further enhanced by provisioning for feedback to measure the effectiveness of mitigation and to ensure that outcomes are within desired limits. The intended audience of the paper is senior executives, business partners, program managers, project/track leads working with program organization groups, project management organizations [PMOs] and steering committees.

Description: The paper discusses the arguments supporting the need for risk culture to transition into ERM culture to be embedded across financial organizations. Creating and maintaining strong ERM culture is paramount to a lasting and meaningful ERM program. It is essential for organizations to understand what ERM culture is, how it gets established and in what way affects the process of ERM implementation. Often, the implications of financial enterprises not focusing on the significance of ERM culture manifested in severely compromised ability to generate sustainable value and market competitive advantage. This paper calls for rethinking the role of ERM culture in the context of managing risks.