Affordable Care Act
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, also known as the Affordable Care Act (ACA), or colloquially as “Obamacare,” was signed into law in March of 2010 with the goal of increasing the quality and affordability of health insurance for millions of Americans.
While the Act’s employer shared responsibility payments will not apply until 2015, and in some cases, not until 2016, there are provisions and safe harbors to consider and decisions that can be made now that may help businesses, employees and a business’s bottom line. Further, there are many unintended consequences arising out of the ACA that business owners, both large and small, need to consider when administering health care arrangements.
We are carefully following the developments associated with the roll-out of ACA and are providing counsel to business owners and other professionals, helping them to address compliance issues, evaluate exposure to penalties and other tax issues as well as planning strategically for the future.
Affordable Care Act Articles
A Primer on Damages to Real Property in Missouri
The general rule in Missouri for damages to real property is the “diminution in value” test, which is calculated by determining the difference between the fair market value before and after the event causing the damage. With respect to fraudulent misrepresentation...
Can a Judgment Debtor Still “Plead the Fifth” in Missouri?
Under Section 513.308 of the Missouri Revised Statutes, a party can obtain an order directing a judgment debtor to be examined under oath regarding the existence and location of any assets, liabilities or sources of income that could be used to satisfy the judgment....
Missouri Supreme Court Clarifies Permissible Scope of Non-Compete Agreements
The Missouri Supreme Court recently held that a non-compete agreement limiting the solicitation of potential customers of a large, national company was overbroad. A non-compete agreement is meant to protect an employer’s trade secrets and/or customer contacts. In...
Minding the Mine Fields: Commercial Leases and Hidden Costs
There are so many variable expenses when starting or growing your business that there is no reason to voluntarily agree to another one, especially when it is often a major expense. That would be the cost of occupancy for your business. And the landlord should want a...
