*Schedule is subject to change

Registration Desk Open – Location: Los Rios Foyer
7:00 am – 5:00 pm

Continental Breakfast – Location: Regency East/Center – Sponsored by IRES Foundation 
7:15 – 8:15 am

Welcome and Keynote Speaker – Location: Regency East/Center
Jon-Mike Kowall
Assistant Vice President of Insurance, Property Product Development & Innovation
8:30 – 9:45 am

Break – Location: Regency East/Center Foyer – Sponsored by Greenberg Traurig  & America’s Health Insurance Plans 
9:45 – 10:00 am

Breakout Session 1 
10:00 – 10:55 am

TRACK: FINANCIAL – Location: Regency West 4
An Update on Data Security – NAIC Model Act 668 and New York Regulation 500
Speakers: Terry W. Ryals, The INS Companies / Phil Schmoyer, Baker Tilly
Cybersecurity risks have become more significant as critical consumer financial and health information is increasingly stored in electronic form. As people become more reliant on electronic communication, and as businesses collect and maintain ever more granular pieces of information on their customers, the opportunity for bad actors to cause difficulties for businesses and the public is exploding. Recent high-profile data breaches have led regulators to work toward strengthening insurer defenses against attacks as well as establishing standards for data security and standards for the investigation of and notification to the Commissioner of a cybersecurity event applicable to licensees. This presentation will discuss the NAIC’s Insurance Data Security Model Law and New York’s regulation on cybersecurity.

TRACK: HEALTH – Location: Regency West 5
Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act
Speakers: Yvonne Clearwater, Examination Resources, LLC / Shelly Schuman, The INS Companies
Paul Hanson (MN) / J.D. Brewer, DHG Healthcare
A continued discussion on compliance and regulatory actions around enforcement of Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act.

TRACK: IT – Location: Regency West 6
Demystifying the SDRs
Speakers: John Haworth (WA) / Jo LeDuc (WI)
The SDRs (Standard Data Requests) are routinely used in market conduct examination data calls. But do you know what you are asking for and why? Do you need 40 columns of data if you’re only pulling sample files? Can the SDRs be used for non-exam data inquiries? This session will cover basic information about the SDRs, their history, where to find them, how to construct a data call using the SDRs, and how to have confidence you are getting the data you need to tackle the issue at hand.

TRACK: MARKET REGULATION – Location: Rio Grande Center
Expert Help with Difficult Filings
Speaker: Greg Fanoe, Merlinos & Associates, Inc
So you have received a filing with complex algorithms that are based on GLM’s and includes micro-segmentation of risks? This session will help Regulators identify concerns with the filing as well as tips to identify things that may be missing.

TRACK: PROPERTY & CASUALTY – Location: Rio Grande West
What’s in This Soup Anyway?: Essential Factors to Rating Personal Auto Insurance
Speaker: Tony Venturella (KS)
Have you ever wondered how your auto insurance company determines what to charge you? Join this overview of the many rating factors that are being utilized by the auto insurance industry.

Breakout Session 2 
11:00 – 11:55 am

TRACK: FINANCIAL – Location: Regency West 4
Accreditation Update – What Examiners and Analysts Need to Know
Speakers: Dana Rudmose, Rudmose and Noller Advisors, LLC / Mark Noller, Rudmose and Noller Advisors, LLC
This presentation will discuss recent changes to the Accreditation Program. At the end of this presentation, you will understand changes to Accreditation guidance effective in 2018 and be able to discuss expectations for communication between analysts and examiners, and identify the effective date for recent model law adoptions for Accreditation purposes.

TRACK: HEALTH – Location: Regency West 5
Hot Topics – Session 1
Speakers: Ron Kotowski, Bankers Life/CNO / Martin Swanson (NE) / Bob Wake (ME)
MACRA and 170/171 Model standards: short duration, long-term care policies

TRACK: IT – Location: Regency West 6
Data Here, Data There, Data Everywhere!
Speaker: Jo LeDuc (WI)
Market regulators have an unprecedented amount of data available to them. And it is growing every day. As the volume of the available data increases, so do the challenges faced by regulators to use it in an effective and efficient manner. Is data visualization the answer? Can it help gain insight fast, get more from the data, and lead to better use of regulatory resources? This session will explore how one tool, Tableau, is being used to transform the way regulators are using data as a part of the market analysis process.

TRACK: LIFE & ANNUITY – Location: Rio Grande East
Suitability
Speakers: Commissioner Doug Ommen (IA) / Karrol Kitt, University of Texas at Austin
What is considered adequate for suitability reviews? Is it enough to accept a principal’s signature on a suitability form? What should company personnel and examiners be doing to ensure suitable sales are actually taking place? Are consumers; especially seniors really being protected by suitability procedures? Is there additional training required or should some types of sales be banned? What is happening with the DOL Fiduciary Rule?

TRACK: MARKET REGULATION – Location: Rio Grande Center
Reviewing IUL Products
Speakers: Paul Hanson (MN) / Jason Lapham (CO)
With IUL sales on the rise over the past several years, how are regulators monitoring these products? Are these products too complex and should they be subject to suitability review?

TRACK: PROPERTY & CASUALTY – Location: Rio Grande West
Give it Away, Give it Away, Give it Away Now: Assignment of Benefits on Property and Casualty Claims
Speakers: Parker Stevens, RRC, LLC / Fred Karlinsky, Greenberg Traurig, LLP
Discussion of the regulatory challenges in keeping consumers safe from predatory repair contractors.

Lunch and Awards, Networking Lunch – Location: Regency East/Center – Sponsored by Risk & Regulatory Consulting 
12:00 – 1:15 pm

Breakout Session 3 
1:30 – 2:25 pm

TRACK: FINANCIAL – Location: Regency West 4
Schedule F Update, Including an Update on the NAIC Covered Agreements Initiative
Speaker: Bryan Fuller, Examination Resources, LLC  
This presentation will describe the evolution that Schedule F will undergo for 2018 reporting. The discussion will address many questions received by the NAIC, including those relating to the completion of the new electronic Schedule F, Parts 3, 5, and 6 – Section 1.

TRACK: HEALTH – Location: Regency West 5
Hot Topics – Session 2
Speakers: Mary Nugent, CMS / Cynthia Fitzgerald, RIA Consulting, LLC / Roy Wilkinson, Wilkinson Benefit Consultants, Inc / Uma Dua, RRC, LLC
Pharmacy Benefit Managers and Pharmacy Benefit Examinations

TRACK: IT – Location: Regency West 6
Cybersecurity
Speaker: Professor David Dampier
TBD

TRACK: LIFE & ANNUITY – Location: Rio Grande East
Annuity Replacements
Speakers: Commissioner Doug Ommen (IA) / Sam Binnun, RRC, LLC / Don Hale (AK) retired / Paul Hanson (MN) / Cara St. Martin, Allianz Life Insurance
What are the current trends regarding replacements? Are there concerns about rolling over business between companies within groups? Should those types of replacements be considered internal rollovers? How can examiners identify abusive practices? What about replacements of annuities when the individual is older? What are the flags for inappropriate replacements?

TRACK: MARKET REGULATION – Location: Rio Grande Center
What Role Do you Play and Role Playing with the Insurance Compact
Speakers: Anne Marie Narcini, IIPRC / Jim Mealer (MO)
Come see Market Regulation drama unfold before your very eyes. Our Award winning cast will role-play different Market Regulation examples related to Compact and mix and match filings.

TRACK: PROPERTY & CASUALTY – Location: Rio Grande West
Washed Away: The Changing Flood Insurance Market
Speakers: Craig Leonard, Examination Resources, LLC / Aaron Brandenburg (NAIC)
Discussion of the current state of the National Flood Insurance Program and the entry of private insurance carriers into the flood market.

Break – Location: Regency East/Center Foyer – Sponsored by CRI – Carr, Riggs & Ingram & Noble Consulting Services, Inc.
2:25 – 2:45 pm

Breakout Session 4 
2:45 – 3:40 pm

TRACK: FINANCIAL – Location: Regency West 4
The Time Has Come! Group-wide Global Examinations
Speakers: Don Carbone, The INS Companies / Joseph Fritsch, The INS Companies  
The time has come for examiners to broaden their examination approach to include all entities, both insurance and non-insurance, within their examination scope. The complexities of today’s insurance holding company systems have led states to pass changes to the Insurance Holding Company System Regulatory Act and create a Group profile that gives the authority to states to review systemic risk associated with all entities that are within an insurance company’s holding company. Are examiners up for the challenge of conducting a Group-wide Global examination?

TRACK: HEALTH – Location: Regency West 5
Association Health Plans: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
Speakers: Ingrid Franklin, Examination Resources, LLC / Don Hale (AK) retired / Angela Nelson (MO) / Bob Wake (ME)
The Federal definition for association health plans has proposed changes. State regulators and issuers discuss the benefits and concerns due to the changes.

TRACK: IT – Location: Regency West 6
Problems/Concerns/Developments in the Data Analytic World
Speaker: Professor Sean P. Goggins, Missouri University
There’s a good deal of attention being paid to Europe’s new data privacy laws. These laws are important for protecting individual rights and freedoms in the present age. Yet the same data we collectively seek to protect also has a myriad of benefits to individuals, organizations and society. Dr. Goggins is the leader of the “Global Consent Manager” project, which helps people to identify trusted websites to share their data with, and also a researcher who builds tools to identify patterns of computer mediated human behavior. Sean is the PI for an open source software health metrics project, in the Linux Foundation Working Group, “CHAOSS”, which uses source code changes, mailing lists, and discussion forums from open source software projects to indicate different types of project health. Among those are indicators of a project’s effective cultivation of diversity and inclusion among contributors.

TRACK: LIFE & ANNUITY – Location: Rio Grande East
Life Insurance – Death Master File
Speakers: Bob McManus, RRC, LLC / Sheri Marston, Examination Resources, LLC
Death Master File – What is the current status of Death Master File and its use by insurers?  Are examinations an effective tool for use in assessing a company’s use of the DMF?  What are the best practices for insurers to consider to avoid unwanted regulatory attention?  What is the status of NAIC activities on this topic?

TRACK: MARKET REGULATION – Location: Rio Grande Center
Best Practices For Exams And Continuum Actions
Speakers: Kara Baysinger, Dentons / Paul Hanson (MN) / Jim Mealer (MO)
A detailed best practice discussion with regulators and outside counsel that have expertise in exams and continuum actions.

TRACK: PROPERTY & CASUALTY – Location: Rio Grande West
Unicorns Need Bridles Too: InsureTech and Regulatory Challenges
Speaker: Derek Brigham, Clearcover
InsureTech companies are disrupting the market like never before. How are regulators to keep up with 21st Century technology and enforce laws that are stuck in the mid-20th Century? Let’s discuss the impacts of InsureTech and how to help these new players stay compliant while at the same time offering highly innovated products.

Breakout Session 5 
3:45 – 4:45 pm

TRACK: FINANCIAL – Location: Regency West 4
Mergers and Trends in the Health Insurance Industry: A Look into the Crystal Ball
Speakers: Steve Hazelbaker, Noble Consulting Services, Inc / Michael Berman, Merlinos & Associates  
With quality, outcomes, value and healthcare and pharmacy cost increases being the buzzwords for healthcare in the 21st century, sector stakeholders in the US and around the globe are looking for innovative and cost-effective ways to deliver patient-centered and technology-enabled “smart” health care, both inside and outside of hospital walls. This presentation will discuss the various trends and changes in the healthcare industry being seen today and in the future.

TRACK: HEALTH – Location: Regency West 5
Short-Term Limited Duration Health Plans
Speakers: Ingrid Franklin, Examination Resources, LLC / Holly Blanchard, RIA Consulting, LLC
Angela Nelson (MO) / Martin Swanson (NE)
The Federal requirements for short-term limited duration health plans have changed again. State regulators talk about these changes and how their state is reacting.

TRACK: IT – Location: Regency West 6
Data Forensics or Data Validity
Speaker: Jerry Link, The INS Companies / Kelly Krakowski (PA)
Are you looking for the right things? Do you know if data has been hidden or not provided? A direct tie into how examiners/analysts could be better at their jobs.

TRACK: LIFE & ANNUITY – Location: Rio Grande East
Long-Term Care
Speakers: Kristie Pompa, NY Life Insurance Company / Randy Helder (NAIC)
What is the future of Long-Term Care? Are there special regulatory concerns related to Long Term Care companies? What is happening at the NAIC? How is data in the Market Conduct Annual Statement helping regulators identify concerns regarding claims and underwriting?

TRACK: MARKET REGULATION – Location: Rio Grande Center
Using Xactimate
Speaker: Mike Fulton, Xactware
A detailed discussion of Xactimate and how it is used by insurers with experts from the company.

TRACK: PROPERTY & CASUALTY – Location: Rio Grande West
May the Force(d) be With You: What’s the Deal with Forced Placed Insurance?
Speakers: Kent Dover, RRC, LLC / Tom McIntyre, RRC, LLC
What is forced placed insurance and why do I have it? Come and get the answer to these questions and explore recent issues surrounding it such as the Wells Fargo scandal.

New Designees Reception (by invitation only) – Location: Chula Vista
5:00 – 6:00 pm

*Schedule is subject to change

IRES PRIDE DAY!

Registration Desk Open – Location: Los Rios Foyer
7:00 am – 3:00 pm

Continental Breakfast – Location:  Regency East/Center – Sponsored by IRES Foundation
7:15 – 8:15 am

Commissioners Roundtable – Location: Regency East/Center
8:30 – 10:45 am

Break – Location: Regency East/Center Foyer – Sponsored by Dentons & Wolters Kluwer Financial Services 
10:45 – 11:00 am

Breakout Session 6 
11:00 – 11:55 am

TRACK: FINANCIAL – Location: Regency West 4 
Blockchain Technology and Crypto Currencies – Potential Impact on Examinations and Financial Analysis
Speaker: Darin Benck, Director, RRC, LLC
As the insurance industry’s interest in Blockchain technology continues to grow, what is the potential impact on future examinations? The focus of this presentation is to explain Blockchain technology and how it could potentially impact the Annual Statement examination and financial analysis, as well as explore where the industry is in its participation in the technology. Blockchain technology has the potential to impact all recordkeeping processes, including the way transactions are initiated, processed, authorized, recorded and reported. Resulting changes in business models and business processes may impact activities such as financial reporting and related internal controls. This presentation will also include a brief overview of the insurance industry’s interest in crypto currencies, such as Bitcoin.

TRACK: HEALTH – Location: Regency West 5
Waivers and Innovation in Health Insurance Products
Speakers: Jo Fameree, RRC, LLC / Sarah Bailey (AK) / Tammy Tomczyk, Oliver Wyman Actuarial Consulting, Inc.
This session discusses one of the waiver and innovation options, Section 1332 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), available to states to shape their healthcare markets in order to better meet local needs. Experts will provide an overview on topics such as what sections of the ACA states are allowed to waive or modify under section 1332, what requirements a waiver application must meet for approval, recent 1332 waiver activity including policy changes states have been exploring, the general process and timeline for preparing and submitting a waiver, and post-approval requirements. They will also discuss the required actuarial and economic analysis, including an overview of how the pass-through funding works, what drives differences in the pass-through funding level by state, and the role states have played in supporting this key component of the waiver application.

TRACK: IT – Location: Regency West 6
Joint Session with P&C – InsurTech
Speaker: Derek Brigham, Clearcover
An overview of the insurance technology landscape, the role of venture capital and economic drivers of future investment; use of mobile applications, IT infrastructure, data science and other unique business model components inherent with insure tech firms; use of reinsurance, fronting carriers and carrier formation considerations; how InsurTech companies differentiate themselves from and compete with legacy incumbents; comparison of expense structures for operations, LAE and marketing between insure tech companies and incumbents; how InsurTech companies engage with regulators and overall regulator response (based on the speaker’s experience); potential areas of concern with InsurTech companies from a solvency or market conduct perspective.

TRACK: LIFE & ANNUITY – Location: Rio Grande East
Visualizing Market Data In Life and Annuity Analyses
Speakers: Randy Helder (NAIC) / Jo LeDuc (WI) / Craig Leonard, Examinations Resources, LLC& Craig Leonard
Data is powerful and plentiful. But to mind its value, it must be accessible and understandable. This session will discuss new ways of visualizing and organizing data to gain a greater understanding of the life and annuity insurance marketplace. The session will also highlight how the NAIC’s State Ahead strategic plan will assist jurisdictions in maximizing the value of the data they collect and analyze.

TRACK: MARKET REGULATION – Location: Rio Grande Center
Eating the Big Data Elephant
Speaker: Birny Birnbaum, Center for Economic Justice
Challenges regulators face with insurers’ use of big data and complex algorithms for pricing and claims settlement, and tools regulators might use to meet those challenges.

TRACK: PROPERTY & CASUALTY – Location: Rio Grande West
It’s All an Illusion: Insuring Residences in Excess of the Property’s Replacement Costs
Speaker: Gina Abate (NC)
Estimate that it would cost $500K to rebuild your home? Then why do you have it insured for $1 million? Let’s explore the world of over-insurance and the associated costs.

Lunch & Awards – Location: Regency East/Center – Sponsored by INS Companies 
12:00 – 1:00 pm

Breakout Session 7
1:00 – 1:55 pm

TRACK: FINANCIAL – Location: Regency West 4
The New Risk-Focused Analysis Process
Speakers: Eli Snowbarger (OK) / Ryan Rowe (OK)
This presentation will provide an overview of the updates to the NAIC Financial Analysis Handbook and the new risk-focused analysis process. It will emphasize how examination deliverables such as the Summary Review Memorandum, Exh V (Prospective Risk Assessment), Exh DD (Critical Risks), and the risk matrices can be used in the new Risk-Focused Analysis Process.

TRACK: HEALTH – Location: Regency West 5
Compliance Reviews, Market Conduct Examinations, and all that Jazz
Speakers: Jo Fameree, RRC, LLC / Susan Kalmus, CMS/CCIIO / Mary Nugent, CMS
Hear from Federal regulators information regarding compliance reviews for Exchange plans, and other Federal enforcement activities.

TRACK: IT – Location: Regency West 6
Joint Session with Financial – Blockchain/Artificial Intelligence
Speaker: Darin Benck, RRC, LLC
As the insurance industry’s interest in Blockchain technology continues to grow, what is the potential impact on future examinations? The focus of this presentation is to explain Blockchain technology and how it could potentially impact both financial and market regulation, as well as explore where the industry is in its participation in the technology. Blockchain technology has the potential to impact all recordkeeping processes, including the way transactions are initiated, processed, authorized, recorded and reported. Resulting changes in business models and business processes may impact activities, such as financial reporting and related internal controls.

TRACK: LIFE & ANNUITY – Location: Rio Grande East
Retirement Planning 101
Speaker: Karrol Kitt, University of Texas at Austin
This session will address the broad concept of retirement planning. Participants will learn about the various areas involved in acquiring financial security in their later years. Retirement is not only having adequate funds to pay expenses during retirement, but it includes protection for assets, social aspects of retirement, and shelter plans while aging. Participants will be asked to personally experience these various areas reflecting on their lives now and in the future.

TRACK: MARKET REGULATION – Location: Rio Grande Center
Not Your Ordinary Advisory Organization
Speakers: Angela Nelson (MO) / Birny Birnbaum, Center for Economic Justice / Elizabeth Tosaris, Locke Lord LLP
A discussion of all the different entities that provide data or data models to insurers. Do they meet the definition of an advisory organization or rating organization? Should the regulatory structure for monitoring these entities be modernized?

TRACK: PROPERTY & CASUALTY – Location: Rio Grande West
I’ve Got the MCAS Blues: Deciphering the Market Conduct Annual Statement
Speaker: John Haworth (WA)
Does the Market Conduct Annual Statement make your head spin? If so, join us as we review best practices for making this important Market Analysis tool work for you.

Breakout Session 8
2:00 – 2:55 pm

TRACK: FINANCIAL – Location: Regency West 4
Tax Reform: Key Provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act Impacting Insurers
Speakers: Rick Nelson, Johnson Lambert LLP / Brandy Vannoy, Johnson Lambert LLP
On Dec. 22, 2017, President Trump signed H.R.1 into law. The new legislation, referred to as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), represents the most significant change in U.S. tax law since 1986. Since its passage, the NAIC and insurers have been addressing the financial statement impact of the tax law changes in the reporting period that includes Dec. 22, 2017, as well as subsequent periods. For example, many insurers hold a net Deferred Tax Asset (DTA) under statutory accounting. The drop in the corporate tax rate from 35% to 21% will generally result in a drop in DTAs and surplus. When you overlay SSAP 101, the calculation may result in some unexpected results. This presentation will discuss some of the key provisions of the Act and its impact on insurer’s financial statements of which examiners should be aware, including DTAs, loss of the three-year loss carryback for life insurers, repeal of the corporate Alternative Minimum Tax and the related allowance of the credit to be refundable such that AMT paid should be recovered by the end of 2021, related admissibility considerations, and more.

TRACK: HEALTH – Location: Regency West 5
Direct to Employer Contracting
Speakers: Shelly Schuman, The INS Companies / J.D. Brewer, DHG Healthcare
In an effort to reduce “wasteful spending,” some new ventures are being established (such as Amazon/Berkshire Hathaway/JP Morgan Chase). What does this mean for the market and insurance regulators?

TRACK: IT – Location: Regency West 6
The Art and Science of Data Analytics
Speaker: Professor Sean P. Goggins, Missouri University
Is what you know about data analytics already out of date? Just what are the ‘kids’ learning these days about data science? Topics include: accessing data, cleansing data, modeling, visualizing and interpreting, programming, open source tools, relational databases, etc.

TRACK: LIFE & ANNUITY – Location: Rio Grande East
Disability MCAS blank
Speaker: Ned Gaines (WA)
This session will provide a detailed walk-through of the new Disability MCAS blank.

TRACK: MARKET REGULATION – Location: Rio Grande Center
Catastrophic Response From A Company And Regulator Perspective
Speakers: Angela Nelson (MO) / Melissa Hield, TDI / Elizabeth Gulick, USAA
With more and more catastrophe’s see how insurance carriers and regulators can work together to enhance disaster response.

TRACK: PROPERTY & CASUALTY – Location: Rio Grande West
There’s a Whole Lotta Shaking Going On: Earthquake Risk Modeling
Speaker: Howard Kunst, CoreLogic
Overview of how CoreLogic creates its risk model for earthquakes and other natural disasters and how they are used by carriers to underwrite their HO business.

Electronic Certificate Check-In – Location: Regency West 6
3:00 – 3:30 pm

IRES Board of Directors Meeting – Location: Chula Vista
4:00 – 6:00 pm

Off-Site Event: River Cruise (scroll down for details)
5:30 pm Tour
6:30 pm Tour

Appreciation Reception – Location: Rio Grande Ballroom
6:00 – 8:00 pm

*Schedule is subject to change

Regulatory Skills Workshop Think Tank – Location: Rio Grande Ballroom
8:30 – 11:45 am

TOPICS:

Cybersecurity: The Cybersecurity (EX) Working group has been busy monitoring issues surrounding cybersecurity, as well as discussing concerns with the implementation of the Insurance Data Security Model Law. What measures should be taken into consideration to ensure successful oversight of cybersecurity from an industry perspective, and how can regulators provide successful oversight faced with continual reduction in budgets and resources?

Short Duration Products: Short Duration Products are gaining popularity as an affordable alternative to traditional products, such as Major Medical and Long Term Care. While there are viable markets for these products, there are also increased consumer risks. What do regulators and the insurance industry need to consider to ensure consumer protection remains paramount? Additionally, what measures can be taken to ensure that a stable market remains that includes Short Duration products?

Collaborative Actions: Collaboration in examinations is more important now than ever due to the complexity of maket conduct issues affecting insurers doing business in many states. However, several influences on collaborative actions make navigating a successful collaborative challenging for regulators and industry. What are the best practices that regulators and the insurance industry need to consider for a collaboration action to be successful?  When should a collaborative action be initiated?

Break – Location: Rio Grande Foyer
10:25 – 10:45 am

Regulatory Skills Workshop Think Tank (continued) – Location: Rio Grande Ballroom
10:45 – 11:45 am