Health Benefit Design Innovations for Advancing Health Equity
Health Symposium
The incorporation of more equity-enhancing benefit design elements has the potential to improve health outcomes and use health care dollars more effectively and efficiently. This Nov. 15 symposium explored strategies to advance health equity with an eye on envisioning the way forward.
Building off the findings from a series of multi-disciplinary conversations facilitated by the Academy’s Health Equity Committee regarding the process of benefit design development and making design changes, the symposium’s interactive sessions explored strategies to facilitate the adoption of more equity-enhancing features.
This conversation is essential for anyone involved in the design, development, and implementation of health plan benefits, including employers, insurers, plan participants, actuaries, benefit consultants, medical directors, health equity thought leaders, health policy experts, health services researchers, policymakers, regulators, and consumer advocates.
Event Information
Agenda
Nov. 15, 2023, National Press Club, 529 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20045
All times are Eastern. Agenda is subject to change.
| 8:15 – 9:00 a.m. | Breakfast |
| 9 – 10:40 a.m. | Envisioning the Way Forward Adding or changing health plan benefits have the potential to improve health equity. This session sets the stage by examining the challenges to doing more and how to address those challenges. Welcome: William Michalisin, Executive Director, American Academy of Actuaries Opening Remarks: Call to Action Annette James, Chairperson, Health Equity Committee, American Academy of Actuaries Overview of Findings from the Academy’s Health Equity Committee: Rebecca Sheppard, Member, Health Equity Committee, American Academy of Actuaries Cori Uccello, Senior Health Fellow, American Academy of Actuaries Panel discussion of employer successes and challenges Nathan Counts, Assistant Vice President, Total Rewards, Amtrak Tammy Fennessy, Director of Benefits, American Eagle Outfitters Christa-Marie Singleton, Chief Medical Officer, U.S. Office of Personnel Management Moderated by: Jennifer Alexander, Focus Group Moderator |
| 10:50 – 11:50 a.m. | Shifting the Focus from Costs to Cost Effectivenes The focus on the impact of the costs of adding new benefits, rather than health outcomes, can be a barrier to incorporating equity-enhancing benefits. This session will discuss ways to shift the focus from costs to cost effectiveness.Brandon Batiste, Vice President of Health Care Innovation, Morgan Health Andrew Hiles, MAAA, FSA, Expert on Employer-Sponsored Health Programs CJ Wolfe, Vice President, Aon Rachael Zuckerman, Social Science Analyst, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation Moderated by: Andie Christopherson |
| 11:50 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. | Lunch |
| 12:30 – 1:55 p.m. | Communicating and Educating More Effectively A good benefit design is not enough. It’s vital to increase awareness and understanding of benefits among plan participants and help them navigate the health system. Keynote Address: Building Trust and Improving Patient Engagement Dr. Lisa Fitzpatrick, founder and CEO of Grapevine Health Panel discussion on how to help plan participants better understand and use their benefits Dr. Lisa Fitzpatrick, founder and CEO of Grapevine Health Teresa Money, Executive Director, Care Delivery Implementation, Blue Cross Blue Shield Association Pamela Rich, Vice President, Business Group on HealthWayne Turner, Senior Attorney, National Health Law Program Moderator: Wayne Rawlins, Senior Clinical Advisor, WellSpark Health |
| 2:05 – 3:05 p.m. | Implementing for Success Panelists will explore how to overcome challenges to the successful implementation of equity-enhancing design features, including regulatory restrictions, IT systems limitations, and data availability challenges. Dr. Irene Dankwa-Mullan, Chief Health Officer, Marti Health Mila Kofman, Executive Director, DC Health Benefit Exchange Lina Rashid, Senior Policy Advisor, CMS Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight Tamara Ward, Senior Vice President Insurance Business Operations, Oscar Moderator: Orriel Richardson, Vice President Health Equity and Policy, Morgan Health |
| 3:10 – 3:40 p.m. | Broadening the Focus: A Fireside Chat During this fireside discussion, Dr. LaShawn McIver will offer insights on how to apply strategies beyond the employer market, how to secure buy-in from top leadership, and how to achieve intentional collaboration among other stakeholders and participants in the health ecosystem. Dr. LaShawn McIver, Chief Health Equity Officer, AHIP; former Director CMS Office of Minority Health Moderator: Annette James, Chairperson, Health Equity Committee, American Academy of Actuaries |
| 3:40 – 3:45 p.m. | Wrap-Up Yi-Ling Lin, MAAA, FSA, Member, Health Equity Committee, American Academy of Actuaries |
Read the Issue Briefs
- Health Benefit Design Innovations for Advancing Health Equity: Removing the Barriers to Successful Implementation