Like the rest of the world, we've spent the last few days cherishing our time with our friends and families, hugging our loved ones, enjoying festive meals and exchanging gifts, all in celebration of our survival of the Mayan Apocalypse. Or something like that.
But now it's time to get back to business and go through the Cavalcade of Risk, a biweekly rotating collection of articles and links (also known as a "blog carnival") from insurance and other risk-related sources that provides some great information and insight about risks and risk management.
Without further ado, here are the entries for the 173rd Edition of the Cavalcade of Risk:
- First Circuit interprets exclusion for claims arising out of restraint of trade : One of my favorite insurance bloggers, Nina Kallen at Insurance Coverage Law in Massachusetts, works in several rants – about astroturfing, hopeless arguments on illusory coverage, and judges who sloppily claim one side or another has a burden of proof with respect to the duty to defend – in her discussion of a First Circuit decision ruling on an exclusion for restraint of trade in an errors and omissions insurance policy.
- Of Antifragile and Accountable Care Organizations: The always enlightening and cerebral Dr. Jaan Sidorov at the Disease Management Care Blog delights in Nassim Taleb’s new word “anti-fragile” and applies it to both cinema and health care. The term “anti-fragile” describes the ability of organizations to survive Black Swan events. It turns out there are many examples of both fragile and anti-fragile systems in many Hollywood movies. Dr. Sidorov asks if the hyper-regulated accountable care organizations are not anti-fragile and are therefore vulnerable to unknown threats. Sidorov raises concerns over the "fragility" of accountable care organizations "which are arguably comprised of highly stable hospitals and clinics in an intensely regulated environment." A very interesting read for anyone in the risk-management field that deals with ACOs.
- Initial Health Insurance Exchanges: The Progress and the Planning: In this timely post, Dennis Wall of Insurance Issues and Claims digs into health insurance exchanges, which are designed to be competitive marketplaces for comparison shopping of health insurance plans offered by private providers. Apparently, more than half of the state governments have, at least thusfar, elected to have the federal government establish and administer the health insurance exchanges mandated by the Affordable Care Act in their states.
- Health Insurance and Genetic Testing: Louise at the Colorado Health Insurance Insider discusses some of the issues surrounding genetic testing and health insurance coverage, including whether health insurance carriers should have to pay for preventative healthcare that results from genetic testing.
- Cause of Rising Hospital Costs: Jason Shafrin at the Healthcare Economist investigates some of the key drivers in rising hospital costs, including what role – if any – that increases in the number of MRIs and CT scans play in those costs. The top three inpatient cost increases may be somewhat surprising to outsiders.
- Flexible Spending Account: Use It or Lose It: After being reminded by his wife, Phillip Taylor at PT Money Personal Finance lays out some reminders for us about FSAs at the end of the year – including both spending the remainder of it as well as setting next year's allotment.
- Life Insurance Over Age 50: Jeff Root at Root Financial & Insurance Services offers some strategic advice about life insurance for those over the age of 50.
- The Benefits of Physical Therapy in Workers Comp: Rebecca Shafer of the Workers Comp Roundup discusses physical therapy, also known as physiotherapy, which is a medical service designed to develop, maintain or restore normal body movements.
The next edition of the Cavalcade of Risk will be hosted by Nina Kallen at Insurance Coverage Law in Massachusetts – please be sure to check it out.
