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Health Chair encourages businesses to comply
with state’s new health care reform law
October 10, 2007...Sen. Richard T. Moore, D-Uxbridge, is urging employers with more than 11 full-time employees to file their “Fair Share Contribution” paperwork with the state’s Division of Unemployment Assistance (DUA). As part of the state’s landmark health care reform initiative enacted last year, these employers are required to file a “Fair Share Contribution” if health insurance is not offered to employees at levels specified by regulation. Currently, regulations require employers to either make at least a 33% contribution to the employees’ monthly premium or cover at least 25% of their employees under their health plan in order to avoid being assessed a Fair Share Contribution of $295 per employee per year. “It is in the employer’s best interest to file with DUA in a timely manner to determine whether they are liable for a payment of a Fair Share Contribution,” said Moore, Senate Chair of the Committee on Health Care Financing and a major architect of the health care reform law. “Even though the state requires an employer to file, that does not mean the employer will owe a contribution. The determination is made when the business files and provides all the information to the Division.” October 1, 2007 marked the start of the filing requirement for the Employer Fair Share Contribution (FSC). Employers filing under the FSC Program will be asked to file online every year between October 1 and November 15. The on-line filing system will be available to employers throughout the year. The information reported by employers will encompass payroll, employment and health insurance coverage data for the 12-month “applicable base period” ending on September 30. For more details about the steps for compliance with the new Massachusetts Health Reform Law, visit www.mass.gov/fairhsare. To learn more about Sen. Moore’s legislation and his work in the Massachusetts Senate, log onto his web site at www.senatormoore.com |
