Important Pending Changes to MA Healthcare Law

ATTENTION MEMBERS AND PAST MEMBERS:

CALL TO ACTION

As a result of a forum held by the Corridor Nine Chamber of Commerce on July 22nd regarding the major issues on the Employer Fair Share Contribution Regulations, Representatives Polito and Peterson worked with businesses and other individuals to draft changes to the current proposed draft regulations for 114.5 CMR 16:00: Determination of Employer Fair Share Contribution. Attached is a notice of the public comment period sent out by the Executive Office of Health and Human Services, and a red-line version of Polito and Peterson's proposed changes to the regulations for your review. There are four major changes that are being proposed: 1. A new definition of Enrolled Employee 2. A new definition for Full-Time Employee 3. Changing the number of weeks for Seasonal Employees definition from sixteen to eighteen 4. Doing away with the definition and references of Temporary Employee As you may be aware, the MA Association of Personnel Services supports these changes to the current law as they will offer a fairer and more equitable approach to providing healthcare to MA residents. We urge everyone to review these regulations. If you support these new proposed changes, we are asking you to please send a letter of support before the public comment period ends on September 18th. I have attached a sample letter that you may use on your own letterhead however, these letters will deliver more "punch" if you can relate it directly to the impact on your business. It is vital to generate as much public support through comments and testimony for these changes as possible to be successful. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact either Representative Peterson or Polito. Their contact information is as follow:

Rep. George N. Peterson, Jr.                                   Rep. Karyn Polito

Rep.GeorgePeterson@hou.state.ma.us               Rep.KarynPolito@hou.state.ma.us

617-722-2100                                                             617-722-2230

Thank you for your attention to this important matter that has a major impact on your business.

Mark T. Carlson

President

MA Association of Personnel Services