Each year around this time, we return to the CIAB offices with an electric energy fed by our annual Employee Benefits Leadership Forum. In what is shaping up to be a healthcare revolution, employee benefits brokers are in the driver's seat.

It's no secret that brokers, employers, insurers and healthcare providers are grappling with the implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Deadlines are around the corner for exchange launches and tax changes, and there still isn't enough detail for the private market to respond with clarity. Some still question if the ACA can work at all, with the word “chaos” frequently used.

But there are numerous reasons to be positive about the ACA: transparency of data and provider costs and the promotion of wellness programs. It comes down to identifying cost problems and coming up with workable solutions. Brokers are in a perfect place to change the way things are done.