House changes ACA’s definition of full-time work

One of the issues public and private sector employers have struggled with is the definition of full-time work in the Affordable Care Act. According to The Washington Post, the House of Representatives voted to pass a proposal to alter the ACA’s definition of full time back to 40 hours a week.

The Post reported the Save American Workers Act, led by Rep. Todd C. Young, R-Ind., received bipartisan support, with all Republicans and 18 Democrats voting to pass the legislation. The bill changes the ACA’s full-time work definition from 30 hours to 40 hours a week in an attempt to prevent employers from limiting worker hours, which is often done to avoid having to provide workers with insurance benefits.

According to Yahoo News, supporters of the original 30-hour definition feel the amendment would cause more Americans to go without healthcare and lead to the federal government taking on greater financial burdens. Approximately 2.6 million workers may be impacted by the definition change.

President Barack Obama has already said he will veto the bill if it passes the Senate, the Post reported. Yet the bill may not make it all the way to the president. While Democrats in the Senate say they are open to changing aspects of the healthcare reform law, the new bill may be voted down.