Description: Climate change will lead to an increase in the frequency and severity of many weather-related hazards. In turn, these hazards will impact health outcomes for individuals. Explore examples of this connection with a climate scientist, including how the increase in wildfire severity in the western U.S. is expected to drive a 40% increase in organic carbon aerosols by 2050 and howheat stress will impact vulnerable populations and workers in non-air-conditioned environments. Investigating these relationships will increase literacy on disproportionate impacts of climate change-related health outcomes. Presenters will illustrate the disproportionate impacts by geographically analyzing climate change signals and comparing them with socioeconomic data. Last but not least, you will learn about the evolution in both voluntary and required disclosures for payors and the landscape of why understanding climate risk is relevant for many payors.

Description: Since the Affordable Care Act implemented minimum loss ratio provisions for health plans, several states have passed or at least considered minimum loss ratio regulation for dental plans. While such regulations are intended to improve insurer efficiency and promote value to consumers, they can have unintended negative consequences if the unique characteristics of the dental insurance market are not considered. Learn about this hot topic, including loss ratio basics, recent legislative activity in the dental loss ratio space, how dental differs from medical, and why those differences are critical to account for when trying to regulate loss ratios in that market.

Description: Data science is being used to create more algorithms used across a variety of applications, including underwriting and pricing. As data science gains traction, it is imperative that we as actuaries consider the ethical implications of use of these algorithms. This session will discuss techniques for evaluating whether your algorithms are inadvertently making biased decisions and considerations for ensuring that your algorithms minimize risk of making biased decisions. Learn to identify potential ethical issues with their algorithms and techniques to address them.

Description: Following her first 100 days as the CMS Administrator, Chiquita Brooks-LaSure released her six strategic pillars for the agency. The Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services (CMCS) followed these pillars and laid out their priorities for states under the Biden-Harris administration. With these priorities established, recent 1115 submissions from several large states, including California, Massachusetts and New Jersey, may give insight to how CMS will operationalize their vision under this program authority. This session will include presentation from state policy staff who have led recent 1115 waiver proposals. By attending the session, you will be able to: • Demonstrate understanding of the current administration’s strategic priorities for State Medicaid & CHIP programs. • Identify trends in recent 1115 waiver submissions.

Description: The Special Financial Assistance (SFA) program included in the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) will provide grants to some of the more troubled multiemployer plans. While this is a welcomed relief for many multiemployer plans facing insolvency, plenty of challenges remain in the implementation of the funds and ability to maintain solvency after the SFA funds are fully utilized. Explore the challenges and opportunities from the pension relief provisions.

Description: Discover an update on recent developments affecting U.S. retirement plans, such as regulatory guidance, new legislative proposals, recent court cases and recent trends. Experienced pension actuaries will share their perspectives on these issues and the impact on plan sponsors.

Description: With the 2024 presidential election one week in the rear-view mirror, actuaries and health policy experts will discuss the potential health policy implications in the next four years in relation to the election results. Focus will be on the changing dynamics within Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplaces with the knowledge benefit of the next president having administrative experience in the ACA environment. Session attendees will be well-equipped to discuss the post-ACA health policy implementation of presidents Biden and Trump, recent policy proposals, and potential legislative/regulatory changes as a result of the 2024 election outcomes.

Description: How are regulation and innovation intertwined? How to regulate artificial intelligence/machine learning in the insurance industry? We will cover how regulators are striking the balance between protection of their constituents and supporting innovation. We will zoom into the case of predictive analytics and the regulatory attempt at avoiding undue discrimination. Let's discuss what this really mean.

Description: This session will provide insights into current industry allocations to asset classes with a focus on emerging and growing allocations to complex assets. Additionally, participants will gain an understanding of the risks associated with complex assets and the associated regulatory discussions.

Description: 2024 is the 50th anniversary of ERISA and enough time has passed since the enactment of Secure 2.0. The U.S. Retirement system is mostly defined contribution. Gaps remain in U.S. Retirement Security and there are very different perspectives on how the system is doing. What is going well and what is not? Have plan sponsors capitalized on the opportunities in Secure 2.0?