Society Of Actuaries Issues Proceedings From Symposium, 'Managed Care In A Time Of Transition'

Schaumburg, Ill.- Differing views of managed care's successes and needed improvements are discussed in a 230-page monograph from the Society of Actuaries.

A three-year research project of the Society explored managed care issues from the perspectives of different stakeholders, primarily consumers, health plan sponsors and health care providers. Results and related presentations were given at a symposium held May 4-5, 1998, in Minneapolis.

Proceedings of the symposium were recently published in a monograph of the same name, 'Managed Care in a Time of Transition.' Presentations addressed such questions as:

• Is quality really HMO members' Number 1 concern?
• How can managed care effectiveness be measured given the widely varying views of stakeholders?
• What are the pluses and pitfalls in one such tool, the Health Plan Employer Data and Information Set (HEDIS)?

The Society's research consisted of two components. One focused on HEDIS, the other on stakeholders' views. The HEDIS study looked closely at the measures within HEDIS for their degree of consistency across plan locations and enrollee populations, what happens when consistency is and isn't present, and other factors. The other explored the question 'What is effective managed care?' from a variety of views to find similarities and differences.

The monograph's six sets of presentations feature insights from 21 experts on managed care, including:

• Anna M. Rappaport, Fellow, Society of Actuaries (F.S.A.), 1997-98 president, Society of Actuaries, and principal, William M. Mercer, Inc.
• Quentin Young, MD, president, American Public Health Association
• Michael Chernew, Ph.D., assistant professor, health management and policy, University of Michigan School of Public Health
• Jeffrey J. Nohl, F.S.A., senior vice president, Wisconsin Physicians Services Insurance Corporation
• Debra L. Lowry, director of market performance appraisal, Kaiser Permanente
• Diana L. Murray, senior manager of group insurance plans, Sara Lee Corporation
• James Murphy, F.S.A., national leader, health and welfare actuarial services. Howard Johnson & Company

Copies of the monograph are available for $35 from the Society of Actuaries' Books Department (phone: 847-706-3526; fax: 847-706-3599; e-mail: bhaynes@soa.org).

The Society of Actuaries, with 16,500 members primarily in the United States and Canada, is North America's largest professional organization for actuaries. The Society provides basic and continuing education to actuaries and conducts actuarial research. Society members practice primarily in the fields of life and health insurance, pensions, employee benefits and investments.

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NOTE: Journalists may obtain copies from Jackie Bitowt, 847-706-3566, jbitowt@soa.org

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