NRA Continues Focus On Healthcare Resources

The National Restaurant Association’s Health Care Knowledge Center was kept busy during the 2013 NRA Show. Owners, operators and other show attendees brought questions to the center about implementing the 2010 Affordable Care Act. Many wanted to know whether, with fluctuating numbers of employees, they were an “applicable large employer” under the law, and consultants at the booth walked them through the calculation. “There has been a lot of discussion about penalties under the law, and also about what an affordable plan looks like, and how to factor in spouses and dependents,” said consultant Jeff Koch. “People really seem to appreciate this resource.”

The NRA soon will offer an online portal that operators can use to inform employees about their coverage options through the new health-insurance marketplaces, or exchanges, as all businesses covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act are required to do. The portal can be adjusted to fit with the restaurant’s brand and includes a tool to track the employees who have viewed the information.

Additionally, the association is maintaining its online Health Care Knowledge Center to help operators stay well-versed on the law. It will be updated regularly with news about the law and users can sign up to receive email alerts when the site is updated.