Administration Releases Important Health Care Law Guidance

Late last week, the Obama Administration released two pieces of guidance that are important to employers. The Treasury Department released IRS Notice 2012-58, describing safe harbor methods that employers may use to determine which employees are treated as full-time employees for the purpose of the employer responsibility provisions, along with other issues. Another document released by the Departments of Labor, Treasury and Health and Human Services – CCIIO/Multi-Agency – is guidance to assist stakeholders with implementation of the 90-day waiting period limitation for health care benefits. Both notices will be in the Internal Revenue Bulletin 2012-41, dated Oct. 9, 2012.  AGC is evaluating the documents and will provide comments detailing the unique nature of the construction industry and how these regulations may be applied to employers in the industry. For more information, please contact Jim Young at (202) 547-0133 or youngj@agc.org.