1 minute read: The IRS Affordable Care Act (ACA) Enforcement Office, located in Ogden, Utah, had been temporarily closed since late March 2020, due to state stay-at-home orders issued in …
ACA Compliance
-
-
Affordable Care Act
CA AB2257 and Its Impact on ACA and Pay Equity Compliance
by Robert Sheenby Robert Sheen2 minute read: California’s AB 5 has forever changed how employers work with freelance workers; that much is certain. A new bill, however, may provide relief for employers that work …
-
Affordable Care Act
What California Residents Need to Know About the Individual Mandate
by Robert Sheenby Robert Sheen2 minute read: This year will mark the first year that California residents will face a new reality of the Individual Mandate. While 2019 was a year of reprieve from …
-
Affordable Care ActHealth Care Coverage
ACA to Aid Millions in Obtaining Healthcare, KFF Report Finds
by Robert Sheenby Robert Sheen2 minute read: The data is in: at least 27 million Americans have lost employer-sponsored health coverage as a result of COVID-19. The Kaiser Family Foundation issued a report in …
-
Affordable Care Act
Covered California Introduces New Special Enrollment Period
by Robert Sheenby Robert Sheen1 minute read: Covered California, the state health insurance marketplace established by the Affordable Care Act, has introduced a new special enrollment period to benefit victims of the 500+ wildfires …
-
ACA ComplianceAffordable Care Act
New Jersey Adopts ACA Provision to Lower Healthcare Costs
by Robert Sheenby Robert Sheen3 minute read: Earlier this month, New Jersey signed into law a state version of an Affordable Care Act provision, the Health Insurance Assessment (HIA) program. New Jersey is the …
-
2 minute read: In another court victory for the Affordable Care Act (ACA), a federal appellate court ruled in Texas v. Rettig that a provision of the ACA that imposes …
-
Affordable Care Act
ACA Compliance Responsibilities Could Increase if the Federal Government Adopts the ABC Test for Employee Misclassification
3 minute read: A tsunami for the gig economy may be coming on the horizon. We have written recently about the ongoing issues that gig economy employers, such as Uber …
-
3 minute read: In yet another triumphant win for the Affordable Care Act, the state of Missouri approved and passed the expansion of Medicaid. The expansion comes after nearly 53% …
-
Affordable Care Act
California Doubles Down on Its Gig Economy Worker Misclassification Challenge. Learn How That Could Affect Your ACA Compliance
3 minute read: California is doubling down in its battle against the gig economy. The California Labor Commissioner’s office just announced that it filed a lawsuit against Uber for misclassifying …
-
2 minute read: The convergence of insurance regulation at the federal and state levels keeps getting more complex. In July, the DC Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the Trump administration …
-
Affordable Care Act
New Senate Bill Seeks to Enhance the Employee Retention Credit Under the CARES Act
by Robert Sheenby Robert Sheen2 minute read: The Senate recently introduced new legislation to further assist in the continuing COVID-19 pandemic, including the American Workers, Families and Employer Assistance Act. Under this Senate Bill, …
-
Affordable Care Act
Gig-Economy Worker Benefits Will Affect ACA Compliance
by Robert Sheenby Robert Sheen3 minute read: It’s no mystery that both companies and consumers benefit from the gig-economy, but what about the workers? Sure, it provides a means to an end, but workers …
-
ACA ComplianceAffordable Care Act
Employee Misclassification Laws Add Headache to Employer ACA Compliance
3 minute read: In the past year three states have implemented laws that broaden the definition of “employee” and include penalties or additional liability exposure for employers who misclassify their …
-
Affordable Care Act
More ACA Complexity: California Releases Draft Instructions Diverge From ACA Employer Reporting
by Robert Sheenby Robert Sheen2 minute read: With the zeroing out of the ACA’s “Individual Mandate,” which required individuals to have minimum essential health coverage through the enactment of the Tax Cuts and Jobs …
-
2 minute read: House of Representative Democrats have unveiled a bill that would enhance many of the ACA’s components while reversing much of the Trump administration’s onslaught to the healthcare …
-
2 minute read: On July 8, 2020 the Supreme Court handed down its decision in Little Sisters of the Poor v. Pennsylvania, upholding the new Trump Administration rule regarding contraceptive …
-
Affordable Care Act
IRS Release Drafts of 2020 IRS Forms 1094-C and 1095-C
by Robert Sheenby Robert Sheen2 minute read: The IRS released its draft 2020 IRS Forms 1094-C and 1095-C, dated as draft as of July 13, 2020. There are no changes to the Form 1094-C …
-
Affordable Care Act
ACA’s Expansion of Medicaid Takes Hold in Oklahoma
by Robert Sheenby Robert Sheen3 minute read: In late June, Oklahoma joined 37 other states and the District of Columbia in expanding Medicaid under the ACA. Better late than never and in good timing …
-
Affordable Care Act
Proposed Rules allow for More Flexibility to Grandfathered Group Health Plans
by Robert Sheenby Robert Sheen2 minute read: The Treasury, the Internal Revenue Service, the Department of Labor and the Department of Health and Human Services have jointly released a notice of proposed rulemaking to …
-
Affordable Care Act
Californians Beware, The Individual ACA Penalty Has Increased
by Robert Sheenby Robert Sheen2 minute read: California residents that fail to obtain qualified health coverage this year will receive a penalty from the state for an amount larger than first projected. Per California’s …
-
2 minute read: Employers should start gearing up for IRS penalty letters issued under the Affordable Care Act. According to an announcement posted on the IRS website, the IRS has …
-
2 minute read: Virginia has decided to get into the worker misclassification game with the passage and implementation of HB 984 on July 1, 2020. Unlike states such as California …
-
2 minute read: As businesses reopen and bring workers back to offices, restaurants, and retail stores across the country, employers should take this opportunity to look at their ACA compliance …
-
2 minute read: This time last year was presumed to be the last time health insurers and employers offering self-funded health insurance plans would have to pay PCORI fees, but …
-
2 minute read: Washington DC is one of several jurisdictions to have implemented an individual mandate in the wake of Congress zeroing out the federal ACA penalty for individuals who …
-
2 minute read: The Affordable Care Act (ACA) is the single most important piece of health care legislation in generations. One major reason for the ACA’s significant impact on the …
-
Affordable Care Act
Protect App-Based Drivers Act Would Create Further Employee Classification and ACA Reporting Issues
3 minute read: As part of their campaign against the requirements of California Assembly Bill 5 (AB5), which went into effect January 2020 and requires employers to treat contract workers …
-
Affordable Care Act
Proposed IRS Regs Will Not Affect How Individuals Receive PTCs
by Robert Sheenby Robert Sheen2 minute read: The IRS recently issued proposed regulations on how the personal tax exemption reduction to “0” will affect qualifications for recipients of Premium Tax Credits (PTCs). Regulation 124810-19, …
-
Affordable Care Act
AB5 Targets Multi-Level Marketing Companies – See How this Could Affect Your ACA Compliance
3 minute read: Multi-level marketing giant Amway was sued in a proposed class action earlier this year for misclassifying its Independent Business Owners (IBOs) as independent contractors instead of employees. …
-
Affordable Care ActHealth Care Coverage
ACA’s Expansion of Medicaid Key Player for Providing Health Coverage Amid COVID-19
by Robert Sheenby Robert Sheen2 minute read: By now it’s become abundantly clear how important it is for individuals to have health coverage. COVID-19 or not, healthcare is saving lives and the ACA has …
-
3 minute read: If you are a U.S. business, there is a good chance that one or more of your employees have taken emergency paid sick leave. Such leaves may …
-
Affordable Care Act
Why CMS’s 2021 Payment Notice May Lead to More PTC Allocations
by Robert Sheenby Robert Sheen2 minute read: Back in March, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued the Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters for 2021 (2021 Payment Notice). The rule includes …
-
2 minute read: In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has instituted a number of important adjustments to employee benefits plan compliance rules. Recently, the …
-
Affordable Care Act
Employers May See More ACA Penalties As a Result of COVID-19
by Robert Sheenby Robert Sheen2 minute read: A new data analysis report from the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) finds the vast majority of Americans who lost their job amid COVID-19will be eligible for government …
-
Affordable Care Act
Know your Tax Relief and ACA Compliance Obligations during the Pandemic: California Governor’s Executive Order brings Property Tax penalty Relief
2 minute read: On May 6, 2020 California Governor Gavin Newsom issued Executive Order N-61-20 providing some property tax penalty relief to individual and small business taxpayer’s who have been …
-
ACA ComplianceAffordable Care Act
Uber and Lyft sued by California for Misclassifying Gig Workers. How Misclassification can Impact ACA Compliance
by Robert Sheenby Robert Sheen3 minute read: Gig Economy giants Uber and Lyft are being sued by the state of California for allegedly failing to meet the requirements of California Assembly Bill 5 (AB …
-
ACA ComplianceACA ReportingAffordable Care Act
ACA Penalties to Continue with the IRS Returning to Work
by Robert Sheenby Robert Sheen2 minute read: As states begin to lift their shelter-in-place orders and begin plans to re-open, employers should take note of recent IRSactivity, as the agency is expediting its efforts …
-
ACA ComplianceACA ReportingAffordable Care Act
Workforce Changes Now Will Affect ACA Reporting Later
by Robert Sheenby Robert Sheen3 minute read: Several weeks into quarantine and social distancing, many are wondering when the country will reopen. As of April 20, 42 states had placed shelter in place orders. …
-
Affordable Care Act
Returning to Work: Rehiring Employees After COVID-19 and the Impact on ACA Compliance
4 minute read: As states begin to relax their stay at home orders and businesses look to reopen post COVID-19 Pandemic, Employers should start thinking about how bringing back furloughed …
-
Affordable Care Act
No Double Dipping: Forgiven Covered Expenses on a PPP Loan Are Not Deductible
by Robert Sheenby Robert Sheen1 minute read: The IRS recently issued IRS Notice 2020-32. See here. This Notice discusses the tax deductibility status of expenses that are forgiven under the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) …
-
ACA ComplianceAffordable Care Act
Supreme Court Rules in Favor of ACA Risk Corridors
by Robert Sheenby Robert Sheen2 minute read: The Affordable Care Act chalked up a win in late April when the Supreme Court ordered the federal government to pay insurance companies funding it’s been entitled …
-
Affordable Care Act
Potential ACA Relief for Employers Facing COVID-19 Hardship
by Robert Sheenby Robert Sheen2 minute read: As the COVID-19 global health pandemic continues to affect businesses large and small, employers must still comply with the requirements of the ACA’s Employer Mandate. As a …
-
2 minute read: While Trump Administration shot down the idea of a special ACA enrollment period to help individuals who have lost their coverage due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, states …
-
4 minute read: Many employers and individuals are understandably concerned about how to navigate the difficult business environment created by the COVID-19 Pandemic and resulting state and federal mitigation measures. …
-
2 minute read: Many employers are understandably concerned about how to navigate the difficult business environment created by the COVID-19 Pandemic and resulting state and federal mitigation measures. Below is …
-
13 minute read: Compliance with the various employer provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) can be complicated under normal employment conditions. As employers face the incredibly difficult business climate …
-
2 minute read: The IRS has been busy issuing penalties to employers that failed to comply with the ACA’s Employer Mandate for the last several tax years. Employers should note …
-
Affordable Care ActIRS
What You Need to Know About COVID-19 Changes at the IRS
by Robert Sheenby Robert Sheen3 minute read: In the midst of theCOVID-19 crisis, the IRS announced that it will pare back operations to focus on “mission-critical” functions. In a notice updated on April 1, …
-
3 minute read: As employers across the country continue to feel the impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic and work to comply with various state or local stay at home orders …