The United States has delayed a portion of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which forces companies with 50 or more workers to provide healthcare coverage to their employees.
That mandate was supposed to come into force next year but has been delayed until 2015.
The U.S. Department of the Treasury said it heard numerous concerns about the complexity of the new employer and insurer reporting requirements under the act and the need for more time to implement them effectively.
The delay will allow the department to meet two goals.
“First, it will allow us to consider ways to simplify the new reporting requirements consistent with the law,” says Mark Mazur, the Treasury Department’s assistant secretary for tax policy.
“Second, it will provide time to adapt health coverage and reporting systems while employers are moving toward making health coverage affordable and accessible for their employees.”
Within the next week, the department will publish formal guidance describing this transition.
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