Description: Get highlights from recently published and upcoming research from the SOA Research Institute, including work on specialty pharmacy and 'Valuing the Impact of Technology in Health Care'. Presenters will focus on the financial impacts of these issues as well as trends and other actuarial considerations.

Description: CMS has required hospitals to publish their chargemaster rates, cash discounts and negotiated rates as of January 1, 2021. Our panel is comprised of a data strategist, an executive from a large hospital system and an actuary.

Description: Investigate Deloitte's methodology to quantify the cost of health inequities attributable to racial bias, gender/sex bias and socioeconomic bias. We will illustrate the methodology by calculating total potential cost savings across different disease states and discuss both the role that actuaries play in addressing health inequity and the steps that organizations can take to activate health equity.

Description: Come explore an in-depth overview of telehealth to set context and navigate the continuing expansion of telehealth and its integration into the healthcare delivery system. You will examine the forces that shape telehealth offerings and expect a view of the possible futures of this evolving modality.

Description: In honor of Bob Barker's 100th birthday (December 12, 2023), we will examine the emerging development in the opaque world of health care prices. 'Referenced Based Pricing' has been a cost-cutting strategy applied by some self-insured employers, but administration, employee dissatisfaction with balance billing, and litigation have been barriers to growth. The new transparency data has yielded research indicating that 'cash prices' are lower than commercially negotiated rates in some areas. Dive in with industry experts as they discuss emerging trends of how consumers, employers, and health insurers will pay for health care services.

Description: Reference Based Pricing (RBP) efforts have increased in popularity as tools to reduce the cost of care. Now with the ability to use CMS health plan transparency information, organizations can estimate the impact of savings from the use of RBP. This session will share the results of an analysis of this in the form of a case study.

Description: Delve into the factors contributing to the rapid growth of high-cost medical treatments and how payers can manage the financial exposure that comes with them. Learn about the current and near-future state of million-dollar medical costs, as well as the trends shaping the industry. By attending the session, you will have a better understanding of the underlying drivers of high-cost treatments and will be equipped with practical strategies for mitigating their financial impact, including risk management techniques, cost containment measures, and new payment models. Additionally, you will be able to identify key considerations for implementing these strategies in their own organizations.

Description: This session reviews the importance of using benchmarks in healthcare utilization management to improve organizational and patient outcomes and increase efficiency. It highlights how benchmarks can inform decisions about utilization management strategies and benefit members, payers, and providers. The presentation includes best practices, successful examples, and solutions to challenges, focusing on claim utilization, risk adjustment efficiency, quality metrics, and overall performance. Additionally, insights into the future of benchmarks and the value of analyzing the entire distribution of data for deeper insights will be shared.

Description: "Examine the impact of traditional deductibles on health care equity and the need for innovative plan designs. You will learn about the limitations of consumer-driven health care costs broadly today, as well as alternative cost-sharing approaches that have been successful in driving consumerism without exposing members to high costs. By attending the session, you will be able to: Have a clearer understanding of the issues surrounding deductibles Be equipped with practical ideas for creating more equitable and effective cost-sharing solutions Assess the feasibility and potential impact of implementing these solutions for your own organization"

Description: "Direct medical costs for cancer care topped $209 billion nationally in 2020, accounting for a significant proportion of all health care expenditures in the U.S. Indirect costs are also significant, encompassing loss of productivity, wages, leisure time and decreased quality of life. The way cancer programs deliver and are reimbursed for care is rapidly changing. As the cost of cancer care continues to rise, several new value-based care programs - both public and private - have attempted to curb these rising costs. Learn about the current landscape of VBC oncology programs, several key challenges and opportunities with oncology analytics, as well as anticipated evolution of cancer care in the near future. Topics include: Current VBC oncology landscape, including a more detailed discussion on CMS' latest oncology program, Enhancing Oncology Model (EOM) Discussion on current challenges and opportunities with oncology analytics, including some advanced methodologies that have been developed based on documented clinical pathways to better understand cost drivers Future state of oncology care including emerging pharmaceuticals and novel therapies, personalized care regimens, and other clinical innovations"