The Affordable Care Act (ACA)’s whistleblower provisions may present a hazard for unsuspecting employers. On February 27, 2013, the Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) released an interim final rule prescribing the procedures and time frames for handling whistleblower complaints filed under ACA, which prohibits retaliation against workers who report violations of … Continue Reading
While one of the greatest benefits of the federal Affordable Care Act (“ACA”) is better access for all to quality healthcare, theoretically resulting in lower health care expenditures, there also are costs associated with the ACA. Many of these costs take the form of additional fees on participating insurers and health maintenance organizations in our … Continue Reading
2013 is shaping up to be a very busy year for employers in all industries, with the continued implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (“ACA”). Recognizing that in 2014, applicable large employers will avoid ACA-related penalty taxes by offering required affordable group health plan coverage just to full-time employees (i.e., those working … Continue Reading
On August 20, 2012, the Eleventh Circuit held in Seff v. Broward County, Florida that the ADA’s safe harbor provision allows employers to deduct a fee from the paychecks of employees who choose not to participate in a wellness program. Broward County offers its employees a group health insurance plan. Beginning in 2009, employees enrolling … Continue Reading
The United States Supreme Court (the “Court”) issued a historic holding today, June 28, 2012. The Court has ruled that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010, together with the Health Care and Education Tax Credits Reconciliation Act of 2010 (collectively, the “Health Reform Act”), which had been signed into law in late … Continue Reading
