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 […]
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 […]
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
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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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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. […]
