The Long-Duration Contracts Work Group of the Financial Reporting Committee released an exposure draft of a public policy practice note on the Application of Accounting Standards Update 2018-12, Targeted Improvements to the Accounting for Long-Duration Contracts. The exposure draft is Part I: Traditional and Limited-Payment Contracts – Basic Considerations Related to the Liability for Future Policy Benefits. Due to the number of areas of practice impacted by this accounting standard, the white paper is being exposed for comment in sections, of which this is the first. Please send comments to rmfrcanalyst@actuary.org by September 30.

Automobile Insurance Committee comments to the U.S. Department of the Treasury and Federal Insurance Office (FIO) request for information (RFI) relating to regarding FIO's future work relating to monitoring the availability and affordability of automobile (auto) insurance.

The Long-term Care Reform Subcommittee sent a comment letter to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) Long-Term Care (EX) Task Force regarding the June 10, 2021 exposure draft of the actuarial sections within the Long-Term Care Insurance Multi-State Rate Review Framework.  

The Health Equity Work Group (HEWG) released a new discussion brief, Health Equity from an Actuarial Perspective: Health Plan Benefit Design. This discussion brief is part of a series developed by the HEWG to provide more context on issues raised in the initial discussion brief, Health Equity from an Actuarial Perspective: Questions to Explore.

The Multiemployer Plans Committee submitted comments to U.S. Department of the Treasury and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) relating to implementation of the multiemployer pension plans temporary funding relief provisions of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA).

The Pension Committee submitted comments to the Department of the Treasury and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) providing suggestions on guidance relating to the implementation of the single-employer pension plan funding relief provisions enacted under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA).

The Multiemployer Plans Committee published notes from October 9, 2020 Multiemployer Plans Committee meeting with officials of the Departments of the Treasury and Labor and Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation on applications by plans in critical and declining status to suspend benefits or partition liabilities as permitted under the Multiemployer Pension Reform Act of 2014 (MPRA).

The annual FAQ document to provide information relevant to the Academy Interest Rate Generator has been updated to reflect changes for 2021.

The Annuity Reserves and Capital Work Group (ARCWG) submitted a proposed draft of revised NAIC VM-22 requirements for fixed annuity principle-based reserving framework. The following draft includes a version demonstrating the changes to the current VM-22 framework as well as a clean version of the document.

The Health Solvency Subcommittee sent a letter to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) Health Risk-Based Capital (E) Working Group regarding its request of the Academy to conduct a comprehensive review of the H2—Underwriting Risk component and managed care credit calculation in the health risk-based capital formula.

The Committee on Property and Liability Financial Reporting (COPLFR) sent a comment letter to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) Casualty Actuarial and Statistical (C) Task Force on proposed changes to P/C annual statements. The letter addresses such areas as definition of exposure, calendar date alignment, and existing alternative data sources.

The Intersector Group published notes from its May 2021 conference call with the Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service.

RMFRC’s Data Science and Analytics Committee (DSAC) submitted comments in response to a joint request for information and comment from several federal agencies regarding financial institutions’ use of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning. The DSAC letter provided actuarial insights into the use of AI in the insurance sector. The agencies making the request are the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Federal Reserve’s Board of Governors, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection, and the National Credit Union Administration.

The Health Practice Council’s Individual & Small Group Markets Committee and Active Benefits Subcommittee sent a comment letter to the departments Health & Human Services, Labor, and the Treasury on prospective agency actions related to the recently enacted No Surprises Act regarding surprise medical billing.

The Committee on Property and Liability Financial Reporting (COPLFR) sent a comment letter to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) Blanks Working Group on proposed changes to P/C annual statements. The letter addresses such areas as definition of exposure, calendar date alignment, and existing alternative data sources.

The Climate-Related Financial Disclosures Work Group and the Actuaries Climate Index/Actuaries Climate Risk Index Work Group submitted comments to the New York State Department of Financial Services on financial risks related to climate change.

The Pension Committee submitted comments to the Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service providing suggestions for modification to the rules relating to the maintenance and application of funding balances.

The Life Reserves Work Group submitted a comment letter to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ (NAIC) Life Actuarial Task Force (LATF) on a Valuation Manual amendment proposal form regarding asset adequacy testing for reinsurance requirements.

The Climate-Related Financial Disclosures Work Group and the Actuaries Climate Index/Actuaries Climate Risk Index Work Group jointly submitted comments to the Securities and Exchange Commission’s request for public input on climate change disclosures. 

The C-2 Longevity Risk Work Group submitted comments to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ (NAIC) Life Risk-Based Capital Working Group (LRBCWG) on the exposure (2021-13-L), Longevity Factors and Instructions.