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
Employers Cannot Average Hours to Avoid the FLSA’s Overtime Requirements
Section 207(a)(1) of the Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”) provides that “no employer shall employ any of his employees…for a workweek longer than forty hours unless such employee receives compensation for his employment in excess of the hours above specified at a...
SEC Adopts Rules to Establish Whistleblower Program Under Section 922 of the Dodd-Frank Act
On May 25, 2011, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) adopted rules to establish a new whistleblower program, implemented under Section 922 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (“Act” or “Dodd-Frank Act”). The Dodd-Frank Act was...
Missouri Governor Vetoes Proposed Bill on Discrimination
Missouri Governor Jay Nixon has vetoed Senate Bill 188, stating that to thrive in a global economy, Missouri must be a state that continues to move forward – not backward - when it comes to civil rights and equal opportunity. "Senate Bill 188 would undermine key...
Appealing Real Property Taxes
2011 is a "reassessment year" for real property taxes in Missouri. A property owner's right to appeal an assessment is usually available only in "reassessment years." Unless special circumstances exist, the assessment establishes the value for the next succeeding year...
