Yesterday afternoon, the Obama administration announced that it is delaying the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act’s shared responsibility mandate for employers with 50 or more full-time employees. The mandate, originally scheduled to begin on January 1, 2014, will now begin in 2015. The delay is intended to give employers additional time to prepare their businesses to comply with the mandate.

Employers are encouraged to use the additional time to evaluate and prepare their employment policies, insurance coverage and reporting systems in order to be ready for full implementation of the mandate in 2015. If you have questions about this change or if you need help preparing your policies, contact us today.

<a title="Michelle B. Ferguson" href="http://www.irelandstapleton.com/people/attorneys/bio?id=40&amp;name=Michelle%20B.%20Ferguson" target="_blank">Michelle B. Ferguson</a>
<a href="mailto:mferguson@irelandstapleton.com">mferguson@irelandstapleton.com</a>
303-628-3658

<a title="Laura J. Hazen" href="http://www.irelandstapleton.com/people/attorneys/bio?id=43&amp;name=Laura%20J.%20Hazen">Laura J. Hazen</a>
<a href="mailto:lhazen@irelandstapleton.com">lhazen@irelandstapleton.com</a>
303-628-3618

<a title="Dino A. Ross" href="http://www.irelandstapleton.com/people/attorneys/bio?id=22&amp;name=Dino%20A.%20Ross" target="_blank">Dino A. Ross</a>
<a href="mailto:dross@irelandstapleton.com">dross@irelandstapleton.com</a>
303-628-3686

<em>Ireland Stapleton's <a title="Employment Law" href="http://www.irelandstapleton.com/practices/employment" target="_blank">employment law</a> group works closely with employers and government entities on all aspects of employment law, including drug testing policies and procedures.</em>