Supporters argue low wage workers and minorities will benefit.  Opponents believe the law adds more unnecessary bureaucracy for employers.  Regardless of which position you agree with, on January 4, 2015, Illinois became the first state in the nation to require employers to automatically enroll workers in a retirement account, a measure which affects an estimated...Read More

Beginning January 1, 2015, employers with 100 or more employees that fail to offer health insurance coverage to full-time employees or that offer health insurance coverage that is not “affordable” are subject to penalties under the Affordable Care Act. Employers that fail to offer health insurance coverage are subject to a penalty of up to...Read More

The Supreme Court ruled earlier this week 5-4 in favor of Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc. and Conestoga Wood Specialties Corp. in the case of Burwell v. Hobby Lobby (formerly named Sebelius v. Hobby Lobby). The case was the strongest legal challenge to the Affordable Care Act since 2012. The case concerned the Department of Health and Human Services...Read More

The I.R.S. has recently issued additional guidance on the consequences of employers failing to provide health insurance coverage to employees. Generally, an employer may reimburse  employees’ for substantiated premiums paid by an employee for non-employer-sponsored hospital and medical insurance. In such instances, the payments are excluded from the employee’s gross income. These arrangements are often referred to...Read More

On February 10, 2014, the Obama administration announced that it will delay implementation of part of the Affordable Care Act’s employer mandate for a second consecutive year. The Treasury Department stated it will delay the mandate’s penalty for small businesses who employ between 50 and 99 workers for one additional year, to 2016.  Employers with...Read More

Ever since the signing into law of the Indiana Medical Malpractice Act (MMA) by Governor Otis Bowen in 1975, physicians and other health care providers in Indiana have had no worries about potential exposure of their personal assets as the result of a judgment in favor of a patient in a medical malpractice lawsuit. This...Read More

Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA or Affordable Care Act), employers that are subject to the Fair Labor Standards Act are required to provide a new notice to employees.  Notice to Employees of Exchange Coverage Options   A “Notice to Employees of Exchange Coverage Options” must be given to inform employees of...Read More

The Obama Administration made a surprise announcement yesterday that implementation of the new employer and insurer reporting requirements under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has been postponed. Planned to commence on January 1, 2014, implementation of the large employer penalty and related employer mandate have been pushed back one year. This means that employers and/or...Read More

KDDK attorneys Steven M. Theising and Ashley R. Bess today gave approximately 75 local business representatives a “reality check” as deadlines related to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act approach. Among many key topics addressed were coverage changes, the individual mandate, health insurance exchanges, the employer mandate, and taxes, credits and fees for individuals...Read More

Deadlines related to healthcare reform in Indiana are rapidly approaching.  Is your business ready?  (Are you sure?)  If not, there’s still time to register for a FREE business seminar re: the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act presented by KDDK attorneys Steven M. Theising and Ashley R. Bess. Sponsored by WorkOne Southwest and the Gibson...Read More