Health Symposium
Health Benefit Design Innovations for Advancing Health Equity
November 15, 2023
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.
The Health Equity Committee released an issue brief summarizing its "Health Benefit Design Innovations for Advancing Health Equity: Removing the Barriers to Successful Implementation" series.
The latest issue brief in its "Health Benefit Design Innovations for Advancing Health Equity: Removing the Barriers to Successful Implementation" series explores how to better understand unmet needs and incorporate input from employees and plan members into the benefit design decision-making process, and Overcoming Constraints to Implementation discusses some of the challenges of implementing equity-enhancing benefit plans—and possible solutions. The lessons learned in discussions that led to this series of four issue briefs was the topic of a special Health Symposium: Health Benefit Design Innovations for Advancing Health Equity on Nov. 15, 2023.
The latest issue brief in its “Health Benefit Design Innovations for Advancing Health Equity: Removing the Barriers to Successful Implementation” series explores how to better understand unmet needs and incorporate input from employees and plan members into the benefit design decision-making process, and Overcoming Constraints to Implementation discusses some of the challenges of implementing equity-enhancing benefit plans—and possible solutions.
A new issue brief released by the Health Equity Committee provides an overview of how potential benefit changes are evaluated and how those evaluations could facilitate the incorporation of equity-enhancing benefit design features. These issues were discussed in the second of a series of workshops with stakeholders and decision-makers focusing on changing cost-sharing features, such as through value-based insurance design (VBID), as well as adding benefits to address health-related social needs.
A new issue brief released by the Health Equity Committee provides an overview of issues related to designing health benefits to improve health equity. These issues were discussed in the first of a series of workshops with stakeholders and decision-makers focusing on changing cost-sharing features, such as through value-based insurance design (VBID), as well as adding benefits to address health-related social needs. In particular, the brief outlines some of the decision-making process with respect to adding benefits and the challenges of incorporating more equity-improving elements into health insurance plan designs.
The Health Equity Committee released a public policy issue brief on health care and health insurance system risk assessment and risk adjustment in the context of health equity. Risk assessment and risk adjustment are valuable tools that are used for a variety of purposes and are being reexamined to understand whether and how they should incorporate social risk factors.
Health Equity Work Group (HEWG) released a discussion brief, Health Equity from an Actuarial Perspective: Managing Population Health. This discussion brief is the final in the 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. This series was undertaken by the HEWG to lay the groundwork for their future exploration and research into health disparities.
Health Equity Work Group (HEWG) discussion brief, Health Equity from an Actuarial Perspective: Provider Contracting and Network Development. 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.
Health Equity Work Group (HEWG) 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.
Health Equity Work Group (HEWG) Discussion Brief – Issue in Focus, Health Equity From An Actuarial Perspective: A Deeper Dive Into Health Plan Pricing. This discussion brief, which focuses on questions related to pricing health insurance products, is part of a series to identify areas that may affect health equity. An introductory discussion brief provided an overview of the HEWG’s work.
Health Equity Work Group (HEWG) discussion brief on health equity from an actuarial perspective. This brief serves as an introduction to the HEWG’s work in examining the following areas: health insurance benefit design, provider contracting and network development, premium pricing, and managing population health.
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.
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.
Senior Health Fellow Cori Uccello and Health Equity Committee Co-Chairperson Rebecca Sheppard gave an overview of the committee’s work on equity considerations related managing population health and risk adjustment to AHIP’s Health Equity Workgroup.
On November 16, 2023, Academy Health Equity Committee chairperson Annette James and member Yi-Ling Lin presented to the Southeastern Actuaries Conference (SEAC) on the importance of health equity and cross-collaboration with various stakeholders. The presentation also highlighted the 2023 workshops and symposium focusing on the intersection of benefit design and health equity.
Senior Health Fellow Cori Uccello gave an overview of the Health Equity Committee’s work on equity considerations related to benefit design to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities’ (CBPP) Marketplace Affordability Project.
Senior Health Fellow Cori Uccello and Health Equity Committee members Ugo Okpewho and Sara Teppema gave an overview of the committee’s work on equity considerations related to provider contracting and network development to AHIP’s Health Equity Workgroup.
Senior Health Fellow Cori Uccello and Health Equity Committee member Rebecca Sheppard gave an overview of the committee’s work on equity considerations related to health plan pricing to AHIP’s Health Equity Workgroup.
Health Equity Committee (HEC) Chairperson Annette James presented at the 2023 Society of Actuaries Health Meeting in Seattle on “Health Equity: What it Means for Actuaries.” Her presentation gave an overview of health equity definitions, its intersection with actuarial work, and highlighted the HEC’s ongoing work, including the upcoming 2023 workshops and symposium focusing on the intersection of benefit design and health equity.
Academy Health Equity Committee Vice Chairperson Stacey Lampkin presented to the Southeastern Actuaries Conference (SEAC) on the committee’s ongoing work on health equity, including the upcoming 2023 workshops and symposium focusing on the intersection of benefit design and health equity.
Academy Health Equity Committee Chairperson Annette James gave a presentation on equity considerations for barriers to care and health plan benefit design to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) Special (EX) Committee on Race & Insurance Workstream #5.
On April 9, 2022, Academy Board member and Health Equity Work Group (HEWG) Chairperson Annette James presented to about 150 students at the Drake Symposium on Insurance on “Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in the Actuarial Profession.” Chairperson James highlighted the Academy’s strategic focus and ongoing efforts to address DE&I, including fostering a diverse, inclusive profession. She also presented on ongoing multifaceted HEWG initiatives to address health equity.
On December 2, 2020, Cori Uccello, the Academy’s Senior Health Fellow, presented on behalf of the Academy’s Health Equity Work Group (HEWG) at the National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ (NAIC’s) Special (EX) Committee on Race and Insurance, Workstream #5 meeting. Written comments by HEWG chairperson Annette James were also submitted to the special committee highlighting the HEWG’s efforts to facilitate solutions to address health disparities.
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.
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.
Senior Health Fellow Cori Uccello and Health Equity Committee Co-Chairperson Rebecca Sheppard gave an overview of the committee’s work on equity considerations related managing population health and risk adjustment to AHIP’s Health Equity Workgroup.
On November 16, 2023, Academy Health Equity Committee chairperson Annette James and member Yi-Ling Lin presented to the Southeastern Actuaries Conference (SEAC) on the importance of health equity and cross-collaboration with various stakeholders. The presentation also highlighted the 2023 workshops and symposium focusing on the intersection of benefit design and health equity.
Senior Health Fellow Cori Uccello gave an overview of the Health Equity Committee’s work on equity considerations related to benefit design to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities’ (CBPP) Marketplace Affordability Project.
Senior Health Fellow Cori Uccello and Health Equity Committee members Ugo Okpewho and Sara Teppema gave an overview of the committee’s work on equity considerations related to provider contracting and network development to AHIP’s Health Equity Workgroup.
Senior Health Fellow Cori Uccello and Health Equity Committee member Rebecca Sheppard gave an overview of the committee’s work on equity considerations related to health plan pricing to AHIP’s Health Equity Workgroup.
Health Equity Committee (HEC) Chairperson Annette James presented at the 2023 Society of Actuaries Health Meeting in Seattle on “Health Equity: What it Means for Actuaries.” Her presentation gave an overview of health equity definitions, its intersection with actuarial work, and highlighted the HEC’s ongoing work, including the upcoming 2023 workshops and symposium focusing on the intersection of benefit design and health equity.
Academy Health Equity Committee Vice Chairperson Stacey Lampkin presented to the Southeastern Actuaries Conference (SEAC) on the committee’s ongoing work on health equity, including the upcoming 2023 workshops and symposium focusing on the intersection of benefit design and health equity.
Academy Health Equity Committee Chairperson Annette James gave a presentation on equity considerations for barriers to care and health plan benefit design to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) Special (EX) Committee on Race & Insurance Workstream #5.
On April 9, 2022, Academy Board member and Health Equity Work Group (HEWG) Chairperson Annette James presented to about 150 students at the Drake Symposium on Insurance on “Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in the Actuarial Profession.” Chairperson James highlighted the Academy’s strategic focus and ongoing efforts to address DE&I, including fostering a diverse, inclusive profession. She also presented on ongoing multifaceted HEWG initiatives to address health equity.
On December 2, 2020, Cori Uccello, the Academy’s Senior Health Fellow, presented on behalf of the Academy’s Health Equity Work Group (HEWG) at the National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ (NAIC’s) Special (EX) Committee on Race and Insurance, Workstream #5 meeting. Written comments by HEWG chairperson Annette James were also submitted to the special committee highlighting the HEWG’s efforts to facilitate solutions to address health disparities.