March 11, 2014 – On Feb. 10, 2014, the IRS and Treasury issued final regulations on the Employer Shared Responsibility provisions under section 4980H of the Internal Revenue Code. They issued the following questions and answers to provide helpful information about the guidance: • Basics of the Employer Shared Responsibility Provisions: Questions 1-3 • […]
https://mb-wp-uploads.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/2024/04/MichBusiness-logo.png00michbusinesshttps://mb-wp-uploads.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/2024/04/MichBusiness-logo.pngmichbusiness2014-03-03 17:00:002015-10-08 00:00:00IRS Releases Questions and Answers on Employer Shared Responsibility Provisions Under the Affordable Care Act
Excerpted from New York Times article, Feb. 20, 2014, by Robert Pear March 11, 2014 – Cities, counties, public schools and community colleges around the country have limited or reduced the work hours of part-time employees to avoid having to provide them with health insurance under the Affordable Care Act, state and local officials say. […]
March 11, 2014 – HHS has released 2014 federal poverty guidelines. Updated annually for inflation, the 2014 guidelines will set the income thresholds for subsidy eligibility on exchanges for 2015. The threshold (in the 48 contiguous states and DC) for one person will be $11,670, an $180 increase over the 2013 level. An employee’s receipt […]
S.E. Michigan Health Care Reform Conference – April 1, 2014 – 8:00am to 1:00pm MSU Management Education Center, Troy, MI Click Here to view the full agenda!
https://mb-wp-uploads.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/2024/04/MichBusiness-logo.png00michbusinesshttps://mb-wp-uploads.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/2024/04/MichBusiness-logo.pngmichbusiness2014-02-21 16:00:552015-10-08 00:00:00Save The Date! S.E. Michigan Health Care Reform Conference – April 1, 2014
By Juliet Eilperin and Amy Goldstein Published: February 10, 2014, washingtonpost.com For the second time in a year, the Obama administration is giving certain employers extra time before they must offer health insurance to almost all their full-time workers. Under new rules announced Monday by Treasury Department officials, employers with 50 to 99 workers will […]
https://mb-wp-uploads.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/2024/04/MichBusiness-logo.png00michbusinesshttps://mb-wp-uploads.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/2024/04/MichBusiness-logo.pngmichbusiness2014-02-21 16:00:452015-10-08 00:00:00Alert! White House Delays Health Insurance Mandate for Medium-Sized Employers Until 2016
By Craig Hodges BSB Communications, Inc. Toll fraud is real and happening often. I have the advantage of working with several colleagues who have been in the telecommunications business since the early 1970s. They agree that our customers have never experienced this much toll fraud. What is toll fraud? Traditionally, it is when […]
https://mb-wp-uploads.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/2024/04/MichBusiness-logo.png00michbusinesshttps://mb-wp-uploads.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/2024/04/MichBusiness-logo.pngmichbusiness2014-02-21 16:00:402015-10-08 00:00:00Don’t Let Your Phone System Be Highjacked
By Lynn Drake Compass Commercial Your business is doing well and you are happy with your current landlord. You may or may notice that your lease is expiring in less than a year. You might think the landlord forgot. I guarantee this is not the case. You might think the landlord is going to allow […]
April 1, 2014 • 8:00 am – 1 pm MSU Management Education Center, Troy, MI This conference is critical for any business or trusted advisor preparing for the continuing rules related to Health Care Reform. Tax penalties, credits, full time employee status and health benefits changes will all be covered. This is a must attend […]
https://mb-wp-uploads.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/2024/04/MichBusiness-logo.png00michbusinesshttps://mb-wp-uploads.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/2024/04/MichBusiness-logo.pngmichbusiness2014-02-19 16:00:552015-10-08 00:00:00Join us – April 1st for our S.E. MI Health Care Reform Conference
As many of you are aware the Michigan Business & Professional Association launched its Health Care Reform Connect™ website and e-publication last fall. We wanted to take a moment to update you on what we have been working on as it relates to supporting Michigan Businesses and your clients through the implementation of health care […]
https://mb-wp-uploads.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/2024/04/MichBusiness-logo.png00michbusinesshttps://mb-wp-uploads.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/2024/04/MichBusiness-logo.pngmichbusiness2014-02-19 16:00:452015-10-08 00:00:00Agent Health Care Reform Connect – Updates
This past January 28th, 2014 on Capitol Hill in Washington D.C. a very important piece of legislation, the “Save American Workers Act” H.R. 2575, was heard in front of one of the most influential committees, Ways and Means, chaired by Michigan’s Congressman Dave Camp. The “Save American Worker’s Act” legislation redefines a regular work week back to the traditional 40 hours, instead of the new and current 30 hour work week due to changes imposed by the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
Our Association knows the importance of reverting back to the standard work week, as it will save people their jobs and maintain their livelihood. We have heard firsthand the issues employers and employees have with adhering and changing from the historic 40 hour work week, to the 30 hour ACA compliant work week. The Michigan Business and Professional Association (MBPA) submitted this letter in support of this legislation during the hearing. The letter is posted below:
January 23, 2014
The Honorable Dave Camp
Chairman of Ways and Means Committee
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Representative Camp:
The Michigan Business and Professional Association (MBPA) boast a statewide sphere of influence that touches one out of every three businesses across the great state of Michigan. At MBPA we pride ourselves in proactively engaging with our members and keeping abreast of all policy that will be headed their way that positively or negatively affect their bottom line and livelihood. Which is why we are in full support of H.R. 2575 introduced by Representative Todd Young, the “Save American Workers Act,”, which would redefine “full-time employment” in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) to be consistent with the established 40-hour work week.
Currently in the new federal healthcare law, businesses with 50 or more full-time equivalent employees (FTEs) are mandated to offer affordable healthcare coverage to all its employees. If they do not offer healthcare to all their employees plus their dependents, the employer could possibly be responsible to pay substantial penalties. In addition to these penalties, an employer must now, per the PPACA, classify a full-time employee as working 30 hours per week averaged over the course of a month. This historic change from the traditional 40 hour work week to the 30 hour work week has given the business community no other choice than to restructure their workforce and reduce employees’ hours to save them from closing their front doors.
If America and its businesses can revert back to the traditional 40 hour work week to define a full-time employee, it would do a great service to the already struggling businesses as they try to acclimate to the other many changes brought upon them by the PPACA. In Michigan, we are slowly recovering from a weak economy, and would like nothing more than to shift our focus to growing our businesses, and employing more workers.
We look forward to continuing this discussion with our Michigan delegation and committee members. Please feel free to contact us at any time with questions or comments.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Kluge, CEO
Michigan Business and Professional Association
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Donec quam felis, ultricies nec, pellentesque eu, pretium quis, sem. Nulla consequat massa quis enim. Donec pede justo, fringilla vel, aliquet nec, vulputate eget, arcu. In enim justo, […]
Here at the Michigan Business and Professional Association (MBPA), our government relations team and supporting staff have been working around the clock as changes to the Affordable Care Act (ACA) have been made. We have dedicated a specific website unlike any other to help you better understand the law and how it impacts you and […]
MBPA members: Please note that the Michigan Personal Property Tax (PPT) exemption filing deadline is fast approaching – it’s Monday, February 10, 2014. Under the PPT exemption approved by the Michigan State Legislature in 2012, businesses that own, lease, or possess commercial and industrial personal property with a market value of less than $80,000 may […]
By Kristi R. Gauthier, Esq. Clark Hill PLC Jan. 30, 2014 – With the holiday season behind us, and a new year beginning, now is the time for employers to refocus on the topic of health care reform, and, in particular, the employer shared responsibility provisions that are slated to impact “applicable large employers” beginning […]
https://mb-wp-uploads.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/2024/04/MichBusiness-logo.png00michbusinesshttps://mb-wp-uploads.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/2024/04/MichBusiness-logo.pngmichbusiness2014-01-27 17:00:002015-10-08 00:00:00Refocusing on the Employer Shared Responsibility Provisions and Penalties
Jan. 30, 2014 – Now that 2014 is here, we’d like to summarize what to expect from the Accountable Care Act this year. Insurance Exchanges: Health care purchasing exchanges must be operational in every state. New Health Coverage Options Begin: Millions of Americans have been signing up for health insurance plans since the exchanges opened […]
https://mb-wp-uploads.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/2024/04/MichBusiness-logo.png00michbusinesshttps://mb-wp-uploads.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/2024/04/MichBusiness-logo.pngmichbusiness2014-01-27 17:00:002015-10-08 00:00:00Affordable Care Act – What to Expect in 2014
Excerpted from New York Times, January 6, 2014 article by Robert Pear Jan. 30, 2014 – National health spending grew slowly for the fourth consecutive year, increasing 3.7 percent in 2012 to $2.8 trillion, the federal government said Monday. But officials disagreed over whether the Affordable Care Act or lingering effects of the recession were […]
https://mb-wp-uploads.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/2024/04/MichBusiness-logo.png00michbusinesshttps://mb-wp-uploads.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/2024/04/MichBusiness-logo.pngmichbusiness2014-01-27 17:00:002015-10-08 00:00:00Another Modest Rise for Health Costs
By Bonnie Bochniak Vice President, Government Relations MBPA/MFBA Jan. 30, 2014 – Here at the Michigan Business and Professional Association (MBPA), our government relations team and support staff have been working around the clock as changes to the Affordable Care Act (ACA) have been made. We have dedicated a specific website unlike any other to […]
https://mb-wp-uploads.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/2024/04/MichBusiness-logo.png00michbusinesshttps://mb-wp-uploads.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/2024/04/MichBusiness-logo.pngmichbusiness2014-01-27 17:00:002015-10-08 00:00:00Affordable Care Act January 2014 Effective Provisions
By Evie Zois Sweeney Muchmore Harrington Smalley & Associates Senior Lobbyist Jan. 30, 2014 – After a tumultuous eight-month battle in the legislature, the final piece of the puzzle finally came to fruition on December 30, 2013 when the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) approved Michigan’s request for a waiver expanding Medicaid coverage. […]
https://mb-wp-uploads.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/2024/04/MichBusiness-logo.png00michbusinesshttps://mb-wp-uploads.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/2024/04/MichBusiness-logo.pngmichbusiness2014-01-27 17:00:002015-10-08 00:00:00Healthy Michigan Plan Awarded Waiver from CMS
The MBPA assists your business with this valuable service, saving you over $500 annually. Complimentary ERISA Compliant Summary Plan Descriptions (SPDs) & Section 125s for all Members! Click Here to Learn More
As a courtesy of the Michigan Business & Professional Association and the Michigan Food & Beverage Association, and working with our partner, United Networks of America, we’re pleased to offer you access to a FREE Prescription Drug Card program. This card will allow you to receive savings up to 75% (average is around 25 – […]
IRS Releases Questions and Answers on Employer Shared Responsibility Provisions Under the Affordable Care Act
/in Expert Advice, Health ReformMarch 11, 2014 – On Feb. 10, 2014, the IRS and Treasury issued final regulations on the Employer Shared Responsibility provisions under section 4980H of the Internal Revenue Code. They issued the following questions and answers to provide helpful information about the guidance: • Basics of the Employer Shared Responsibility Provisions: Questions 1-3 • […]
Public Sector Cuts Part-Time Shifts to Bypass Insurance Law
/in Implementation Connection, Political Landscape, Political UpdateExcerpted from New York Times article, Feb. 20, 2014, by Robert Pear March 11, 2014 – Cities, counties, public schools and community colleges around the country have limited or reduced the work hours of part-time employees to avoid having to provide them with health insurance under the Affordable Care Act, state and local officials say. […]
HHS Releases 2014 Federal Poverty Level Guidelines
/in Implementation Connection, Political Landscape, Political UpdateMarch 11, 2014 – HHS has released 2014 federal poverty guidelines. Updated annually for inflation, the 2014 guidelines will set the income thresholds for subsidy eligibility on exchanges for 2015. The threshold (in the 48 contiguous states and DC) for one person will be $11,670, an $180 increase over the 2013 level. An employee’s receipt […]
Save The Date! S.E. Michigan Health Care Reform Conference – April 1, 2014
/in Business KnowledgeS.E. Michigan Health Care Reform Conference – April 1, 2014 – 8:00am to 1:00pm MSU Management Education Center, Troy, MI Click Here to view the full agenda!
Alert! White House Delays Health Insurance Mandate for Medium-Sized Employers Until 2016
/in Business KnowledgeBy Juliet Eilperin and Amy Goldstein Published: February 10, 2014, washingtonpost.com For the second time in a year, the Obama administration is giving certain employers extra time before they must offer health insurance to almost all their full-time workers. Under new rules announced Monday by Treasury Department officials, employers with 50 to 99 workers will […]
Don’t Let Your Phone System Be Highjacked
/in Business KnowledgeBy Craig Hodges BSB Communications, Inc. Toll fraud is real and happening often. I have the advantage of working with several colleagues who have been in the telecommunications business since the early 1970s. They agree that our customers have never experienced this much toll fraud. What is toll fraud? Traditionally, it is when […]
The Last Minute Gotcha!
/in Business KnowledgeBy Lynn Drake Compass Commercial Your business is doing well and you are happy with your current landlord. You may or may notice that your lease is expiring in less than a year. You might think the landlord forgot. I guarantee this is not the case. You might think the landlord is going to allow […]
Join us – April 1st for our S.E. MI Health Care Reform Conference
/in Agent CommunityApril 1, 2014 • 8:00 am – 1 pm MSU Management Education Center, Troy, MI This conference is critical for any business or trusted advisor preparing for the continuing rules related to Health Care Reform. Tax penalties, credits, full time employee status and health benefits changes will all be covered. This is a must attend […]
Agent Health Care Reform Connect – Updates
/in Agent CommunityAs many of you are aware the Michigan Business & Professional Association launched its Health Care Reform Connect™ website and e-publication last fall. We wanted to take a moment to update you on what we have been working on as it relates to supporting Michigan Businesses and your clients through the implementation of health care […]
Save American Workers Act
/in Agent Community, Implementation Connection, Legislative Influence, Political Landscape, Political UpdateThis past January 28th, 2014 on Capitol Hill in Washington D.C. a very important piece of legislation, the “Save American Workers Act” H.R. 2575, was heard in front of one of the most influential committees, Ways and Means, chaired by Michigan’s Congressman Dave Camp. The “Save American Worker’s Act” legislation redefines a regular work week back to the traditional 40 hours, instead of the new and current 30 hour work week due to changes imposed by the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
Our Association knows the importance of reverting back to the standard work week, as it will save people their jobs and maintain their livelihood. We have heard firsthand the issues employers and employees have with adhering and changing from the historic 40 hour work week, to the 30 hour ACA compliant work week. The Michigan Business and Professional Association (MBPA) submitted this letter in support of this legislation during the hearing. The letter is posted below:
January 23, 2014
The Honorable Dave Camp
Chairman of Ways and Means Committee
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Representative Camp:
The Michigan Business and Professional Association (MBPA) boast a statewide sphere of influence that touches one out of every three businesses across the great state of Michigan. At MBPA we pride ourselves in proactively engaging with our members and keeping abreast of all policy that will be headed their way that positively or negatively affect their bottom line and livelihood. Which is why we are in full support of H.R. 2575 introduced by Representative Todd Young, the “Save American Workers Act,”, which would redefine “full-time employment” in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) to be consistent with the established 40-hour work week.
Currently in the new federal healthcare law, businesses with 50 or more full-time equivalent employees (FTEs) are mandated to offer affordable healthcare coverage to all its employees. If they do not offer healthcare to all their employees plus their dependents, the employer could possibly be responsible to pay substantial penalties. In addition to these penalties, an employer must now, per the PPACA, classify a full-time employee as working 30 hours per week averaged over the course of a month. This historic change from the traditional 40 hour work week to the 30 hour work week has given the business community no other choice than to restructure their workforce and reduce employees’ hours to save them from closing their front doors.
If America and its businesses can revert back to the traditional 40 hour work week to define a full-time employee, it would do a great service to the already struggling businesses as they try to acclimate to the other many changes brought upon them by the PPACA. In Michigan, we are slowly recovering from a weak economy, and would like nothing more than to shift our focus to growing our businesses, and employing more workers.
We look forward to continuing this discussion with our Michigan delegation and committee members. Please feel free to contact us at any time with questions or comments.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Kluge, CEO
Michigan Business and Professional Association
Entry without preview image
/in NewsLorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. Donec quam felis, ultricies nec, pellentesque eu, pretium quis, sem. Nulla consequat massa quis enim. Donec pede justo, fringilla vel, aliquet nec, vulputate eget, arcu. In enim justo, […]
The Affordable Care Act 2014
/in Agent CommunityHere at the Michigan Business and Professional Association (MBPA), our government relations team and supporting staff have been working around the clock as changes to the Affordable Care Act (ACA) have been made. We have dedicated a specific website unlike any other to help you better understand the law and how it impacts you and […]
Personal property tax exemption deadline coming soon
/in Business KnowledgeMBPA members: Please note that the Michigan Personal Property Tax (PPT) exemption filing deadline is fast approaching – it’s Monday, February 10, 2014. Under the PPT exemption approved by the Michigan State Legislature in 2012, businesses that own, lease, or possess commercial and industrial personal property with a market value of less than $80,000 may […]
Refocusing on the Employer Shared Responsibility Provisions and Penalties
/in Expert Advice, Health ReformBy Kristi R. Gauthier, Esq. Clark Hill PLC Jan. 30, 2014 – With the holiday season behind us, and a new year beginning, now is the time for employers to refocus on the topic of health care reform, and, in particular, the employer shared responsibility provisions that are slated to impact “applicable large employers” beginning […]
Affordable Care Act – What to Expect in 2014
/in Expert Advice, Health ReformJan. 30, 2014 – Now that 2014 is here, we’d like to summarize what to expect from the Accountable Care Act this year. Insurance Exchanges: Health care purchasing exchanges must be operational in every state. New Health Coverage Options Begin: Millions of Americans have been signing up for health insurance plans since the exchanges opened […]
Another Modest Rise for Health Costs
/in Implementation Connection, Political Landscape, Political UpdateExcerpted from New York Times, January 6, 2014 article by Robert Pear Jan. 30, 2014 – National health spending grew slowly for the fourth consecutive year, increasing 3.7 percent in 2012 to $2.8 trillion, the federal government said Monday. But officials disagreed over whether the Affordable Care Act or lingering effects of the recession were […]
Affordable Care Act January 2014 Effective Provisions
/in Implementation Connection, Political Landscape, Political UpdateBy Bonnie Bochniak Vice President, Government Relations MBPA/MFBA Jan. 30, 2014 – Here at the Michigan Business and Professional Association (MBPA), our government relations team and support staff have been working around the clock as changes to the Affordable Care Act (ACA) have been made. We have dedicated a specific website unlike any other to […]
Healthy Michigan Plan Awarded Waiver from CMS
/in Implementation Connection, Political Landscape, Political UpdateBy Evie Zois Sweeney Muchmore Harrington Smalley & Associates Senior Lobbyist Jan. 30, 2014 – After a tumultuous eight-month battle in the legislature, the final piece of the puzzle finally came to fruition on December 30, 2013 when the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) approved Michigan’s request for a waiver expanding Medicaid coverage. […]
Complimentary ERISA Compliant Summary Plan Descriptions (SPD’s) & Section 125s
/in Business KnowledgeThe MBPA assists your business with this valuable service, saving you over $500 annually. Complimentary ERISA Compliant Summary Plan Descriptions (SPDs) & Section 125s for all Members! Click Here to Learn More
Agents Look! FREE Prescription Discount Card For Your Groups!
/in Agent CommunityAs a courtesy of the Michigan Business & Professional Association and the Michigan Food & Beverage Association, and working with our partner, United Networks of America, we’re pleased to offer you access to a FREE Prescription Drug Card program. This card will allow you to receive savings up to 75% (average is around 25 – […]