So, it's settled, then. Health care reform's here to stay. At least for now. All eyes are now on November.
If only employers had the luxury of sitting around debating political finer points, convoluted regulations and one more tax bill. But you don't. While the talking heads chatter away – and the politicians continue to find new ways to argue about the same things – you have businesses to run, employees to take care of and deadlines to meet. Who cares if you're caught in the middle.
"Throughout the legal challenges to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, the vast majority of employers remained focused on meeting their obligations under the law. Whatever steps Congress and the Administration take from today forward must clarify – not complicate – employer responsibilities. If both branches of government focus on scoring political points, rather than helping employers and health insurers meet their obligations, then the majority of Americans who rely on employer-sponsored coverage will suffer," American Benefits Council President James Klein said in a prepared statement immediately following the Supreme Court ruling.
Recommended For You
The rest of his statement speaks directly to employers, at a time when so few in the Beltway do. Employers must act as if this is the new reality, because right now, it is. You simply don't have a choice. But you also need help, or, as Klein puts it, "…employers need timely, practical and flexible guidance interpreting the law so they can continue to meet their compliance obligations.
"Employers need answers quickly to a number of pressing issues, especially those related to the 2014 'shared employer responsibility' provisions, how federal regulators will interpret the increased incentives for employer wellness programs, and whether the health insurance exchanges will operate as intended and be prepared to administer the new and complex premium subsidy program."
It's a long road ahead, and it's time to start worrying about the journey and just start walking.
"The next 18 months between now and January 2014 are certain to be challenging as implementation of PPACA moves forward," Klein said.
Believe it or not, implementation has been pretty simple and straightforward up to now. The hard part – that even the experts are still trying to untangle – remains.
© 2025 ALM Global, LLC, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to [email protected]. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.
