Last month during APSCUF’s Legislative Assembly meeting, the delegates passed a resolution calling on the State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) to commit to not cutting temporary faculty hours in order to avoid requirements of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). The resolution also demands that PASSHE meet the value and affordability requirements of the Affordable Care Act.
Temporary faculty members across the country have been threatened by their employers’ actions as a result of the ACA requirements. Many temporary faculty members are working at or above the 30-hour threshold at which the Affordable Care Act requires businesses to pay health insurance for their employees. Some universities intend to cut adjunct faculty members’ hours to keep from providing health benefits, claiming they will save money. While many part-time temporary faculty at PASSHE universities are offered healthcare, often at a high premium share, APSCUF’s resolution is a proactive measure to ensure that temporary faculty retain their hours and that current healthcare arrangements for part-time temporary faculty members meet the minimum affordability requirements of the PPACA.
APSCUF’s legislative body unanimously passed the resolution supporting temporary faculty across the State System and the nation and calling on PASSHE to act on the behalf of its employees rather than cutting off their right to the affordable health care benefits and hours they deserve. The employer mandate provisions of the PPACA have been extended until January 1, 2015, and APSCUF hopes PASSHE uses the time to ensure that temporary faculty members are adequately compensated and have affordable, quality healthcare.
A Resolution of the 176th Legislative Assembly of the Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties
Whereas, implementation of Employer Shared Responsibility provisions of the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) have been delayed until January 1, 2015;
Whereas, Employer Shared Responsibility provisions of the PPACA require large employers, including PASSHE, to provide minimum essential healthcare coverage for anyone working an average of 30 hours per week;
Whereas, Employer Shared Responsibility provisions of the PPACA require employer health coverage to be of minimum value (plan pays 60 percent of average claim cost for each individual) and affordable (employee premium cost is less than 9.5 percent of household income);
Whereas, college and university administrations throughout the country have cut temporary faculty teaching and prep hours to under 30 hours per week to avoid requirements of the ACA;
Whereas, the current cost-sharing structure for temporary faculty healthcare may not meet the minimum value/affordable plan requirements of the ACA; and
Whereas, PASSHE is planning for the requirements of the ACA to take effect on January 1, 2015;
Now, therefore, be it resolved that the 176th Legislative Assembly of the Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties demands a commitment from PASSHE to refrain from cutting temporary faculty teaching and prep hours to avoid requirements of the Affordable Care Act; and
Be it further resolved, that the 176th Legislative Assembly of the Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties demands PASSHE ensure that the level of healthcare and cost-sharing for temporary faculty is not negatively impacted by the PPACA and meets minimum value and affordability requirements under the PPACA if it does not so already;
Be it further resolved, that APSCUF stands in solidarity with temporary faculty and temporary faculty groups across the nation fighting to maintain teaching/prep hours and fighting for the healthcare they deserve.