The Doctor is In: ACA Employer Mandate
The employer shared responsibility under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) became effective January 2015, requiring that all businesses with over 50 full-time-equivalent employees provide health insurance for their full-time employees, or pay a per-month “Employer Shared Responsibility Payment” on their federal tax return. This requirement starts in 2015 for small businesses with 100 or more full-time-equivalent employees and in 2016 for those with 50-99 employees. Come hear how you can stay in compliance with this new ACA guideline.
Mark Iwry
J. Mark Iwry is Senior Advisor to the Secretary of the Treasury and is the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Retirement and Health Policy at the U.S. Treasury Department. In that role, he is heavily involved in retirement and savings policy, implementation of the Affordable Care Act, other employee benefits and compensation issues, and related policy, legislative, rulemaking, and regulatory activity.
Mark was previously a Nonresident Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution, a partner in the law firm of Covington & Burling, a Research Professor at Georgetown University, Of Counsel to the law firm of Sullivan & Cromwell, and a Principal of the Retirement Security Project. From 1995 to 2001, he was the Treasury Department's Benefits Tax Counsel, serving as the principal official directly responsible for tax policy and regulation relating to the Nation’s qualified pension and 401(k) plans, IRAs, employer health plans, deferred compensation, and other employee benefits.
Mark has often testified before congressional committees – representing the Treasury and Executive Branch or, while in the private sector, testifying as an independent expert -- and State legislatures. He has advised numerous Senators, Members of Congress and their staffs on both sides of the aisle, and has been asked to provide policy advice to various Presidential campaigns.
Formerly a chair of the D.C. Bar Employee Benefits Committee and member of the White House Task Force on Health Care Reform (1993-94), his books and articles include the co-edited volume (with William Gale and Peter Orszag), Aging Gracefully: Ideas to Improve Retirement Security in America (Century Fdn. Press, 2006) and Automatic: Changing the Way America Saves (Brookings Institution Press, 2009)(co-edited with W. Gale, D. John and L. Walker).
Mark is an honors graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Law School, earned a Masters degree in Public Policy from Harvard’s Kennedy School, and is listed in Who’s Who, Best Lawyers in America, Washington DC Super Lawyers, etc. He is a Fellow of the American College of Employee Benefits Counsel and a member of the bar of the U.S. Supreme Court.
Meredith K. Olafson
Ms. Olafson currently serves as a Senior Policy Advisor in the Office of the Administrator at the United States Small Business Administration. In her role, Meredith serves as the main liaison between the agency and the small employer community on implementation of the Affordable Care Act and has led the SBA’s effort to expand its outreach and education on health care matters. Meredith also works on policy issues related to investment in rural and underserved communities and disaster assistance.
Prior to this role, Meredith was as a Senior Policy Analyst in the agency’s Office of Entrepreneurial Development where she worked on special initiatives related to economic development and veteran’s entrepreneurship. Meredith has also served in the Office of General Counsel as an Attorney Advisor on employment and labor law matters.
Before joining the Administration, Meredith practiced law at Hunton & Williams LLP and Sonnenschein, Nath & Rosenthal, where she worked as an associate representing a diverse range of firms in employment litigation at the federal and state level. She also provided advice and counsel on discrimination law, wage-hour matters, and non-compete law, conducted numerous management trainings on legal compliance, and developed and audited workplace policies. Meredith holds a B.A. from Northwestern University and a J.D. from Georgetown University.
Rhett Buttle
Rhett Buttle currently serves as the Director of Private Sector Engagement in the Office of the Secretary at the United States Department of Health and Human Services. In his role, Rhett is the main liaison between the department and the business community. In addition, Rhett is a member of the White House Business Council where he works to engage the business community on a variety of healthcare policy issues, including the implementation of the Affordable Care Act.
Before this role, Rhett was Vice President for External Affairs at Small Business Majority, a national business advocacy organization. During his tenure, Rhett led the effort to grow the organization in size and scope launching eight regional offices and expanding the organization’s policy issue set. His efforts led to sustained engagement with business leaders across the country on a variety of public policy issues and a national campaign to educate the business community about the Affordable Care Act. Rhett has also served in the Office of the President at George Washington University, worked on presidential, state and local campaigns and in the office of California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. He was part of the governor’s legislative team working on healthcare reform, energy and education issues.
Rhett frequently engages with the media and has spoken on business issues at the Harvard Institute of Politics, the Aspen Institute, and the Center for American Progress. He also serves on the boards of several different organizations, including the Board of Directors at the University of San Diego. Rhett holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of San Diego and a master’s degree from The George Washington University. In addition, he is active in many volunteer & professional organizations including American Legion Boys State. Rhett was born and raised in Las Vegas, NV.