Amy Christen, Kathrin Kudner Quoted in Human Resource Executive Article on Affordable Care Act “Pay or Play”

Amy Christen, member in Dykema’s Employee Benefits practice, who specializes in employee health and welfare benefit plans, and Kathrin Kudner, member of the Firm’s Health Care practice, who advises health care providers, insurers and managed care organizations on how to address the new requirements and obligations of the Affordable Care Act, were quoted in an article that appears in the April 3 online edition of Human Resource Executive.

The article, “ACA ‘Play or Pay’ Day of Reckoning Looms,” highlights decisions that employers must confront in designing their employee health care offerings in upcoming years.

Christen’s advice to employers is to begin analyzing the ACA Play or Pay mandate now to avoid potentially significant and unbudgeted expenses next year in health care offerings. “You need to verify whatever you can, do not take anything as truth until you check it out completely. And no matter what industry you may be in, try your best to answer employee questions and concerns.”

Both Christen and  Kudner reinforce the idea of getting senior management—most particularly, the company’s Chief Financial Officer—involved early. “The CFO needs to know now what to expect,” Kudner says. “It's better to provide all the facts to them now, and avoid any surprises six months out."

Human Resource Executive is the premier publication focused on strategic issues in HR. The online edition is read by more than 60,000 key HR decision-makers.

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