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: This article discusses the global capital standards for Global Systemically Important Insurers (G-SIIs) and Internationally Active Insurance Groups (IAIGs) currently being developed by the International Association of Insurance Supervisors (IAIS).

Description: Discussion of FAS 133 Implementation Issue B36 relating to the implications for the financial reporting of modco and similar reinsurance treaties where the assuming company assumes some investment risk from assets still owned by the ceding company.

Description: Feature article describing how the Society of Actuaries (SOA) partnered with the Association of Home Office Underwriters (AHOU) and the Canadian Institute of Underwriters to conduct research focused on new medical tests and markers that may have significance and relevance to the life insurance markets to get a sense of where underwriting practices are going in the future.

Description: This article discusses a number of product variations seen in the market with respect to Universal Life products with secondary death benefit guarantees, factors leading to those designs and considerations regarding the adequacy of reserves that emerge under AXXX formulas. This article also identifies a series of factors that authors believe will make it difficult to quickly and equitably resolve these issues through formula-based changes.

Description: Embedded Risk in Settlement Options on Older Life and Annuity Contracts

Description: This article summarizes key aspects of the Economic Balance Sheet (EBS) framework with respect to valuation of long-term liabilities. It highlights key implications of the EBS framework for life insurers and actuaries.

Description: This article discusses a study of the impact of the drug infliximab on Crohn's disease patients. This study had been approved in response to an SOA request for proposals for research on the health cost and utilization effects of a specific prescription drug.

Description: Improve pharmacy cost forecasting by developing induced demand curves for pharmacy costs.

Description: This is an article about final tax regulations issued in April which provide helpful guidance on the acquisition of insurance companies pursuant to an election under section 338 of the Internal Revenue Code and assumption reinsurance of blocks of insurance when accompanied by the acquisition of other business assets.