The Health Practice Council has released an issue brief, ERISA at 50: ERISA and Health Benefits. The issue brief covers the history of ERISA’s application to health benefits, subsequent amendments to the law, ERISA’s facilitation of coverage under employer-sponsored health plans, and its challenges. Released alongside the issue brief is an executive summary of the brief.

The Health Practice Council has released an issue brief, ERISA at 50: ERISA and Health Benefits. The issue brief covers the history of ERISA’s application to health benefits, subsequent amendments to the law, ERISA’s facilitation of coverage under employer-sponsored health plans, and its challenges. Released alongside the issue brief is an executive summary of the brief.

Annette James, co-chairperson of the Health Equity Committee (HEC), provided updates on recent HEC activities to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) Special (EX) Executive Committee on Race and Insurance. Topics included using cost-effectiveness as a metric for evaluating new benefits as opposed to using only cost. Behavioral health is also a major focus of the HEC this year to develop a framework that actuaries could use to incorporate other factors into the evaluation of health benefits.

Academy Senior Health Policy Analyst Matthew Williams provided an update on the Health Practice Council (HPC) activities of interest to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) Health Actuarial (B) Task Force during its 2024 Summer National Meeting. Topics included key policy priorities and project updates for the HPC, annual Hill and agency visits, as well as current workstreams with the NAIC Health Risk-Based Capital (E) Working Group on tiered risk-based capital factor development.

The Health Equity Committee presented at the 2024 SOA Health Meeting on “Improving Data Analysis Using a Health Equity Lens.” The session explored the intersection of health equity and data, including stakeholder perspectives and a Medicaid-focused case study.

The Health Practice Council’s Active Benefits Committee and Individual and Small Group Markets Committee responded to the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions’ (HELP) request for information regarding portable benefits for self-employed workers and other individuals in nontraditional working arrangements.

The Health Practice Council submitted comments on the exposure draft of Actuarial Standard of Practice (ASOP) No. 12, Risk Classification (for All Practice Areas).

Academy Senior Health Policy Analyst Matthew Williams provided an update on the Health Practice Council (HPC) activities of interest to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) Health Actuarial (B) Task Force during its 2024 Spring National Meeting. Topics included key policy priorities and project updates for the HPC, as well as current workstreams with the NAIC Health Risk-Based Capital (E) Working Group (HRBC) on tiered risk-based capital factor development.

The Health Practice Council’s Health Care Delivery Committee, Individual and Small Group Markets Committee, and Active Benefits Committee responded to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions’ (HELP) request for information on access to gene therapies for patients with an ultra-rare disease.

Health Equity Committee co-chairpersons Annette James and Rebecca Sheppard, and member Yi-Ling Lin, gave an overview of the committee’s work on equity considerations related to benefit design to AHIP’s Health Equity Workgroup.