Treasury Releases Final Regulations Resolving Volunteer Fire Companies' Health Care Issue

Statement

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) welcomed the U.S. Department of Treasury's issuance of final regulations for implementation of the employer responsibility provisions under the Affordable Care Act on Monday -- regulations that reconcile a conflict in the tax code that could require volunteer fire companies to count their volunteer firefighters as "employees" and potentially trigger the Affordable Care Act's coverage mandate for businesses with more than 50 employees.

"Delaware's volunteer fire companies are such an important part of our communities," Senator Coons said. "The Obama Administration today fulfilled a promise made to me and to Delaware's volunteer fire companies last month to issue final regulations to clarify that volunteer firefighters would not count as employees under the Affordable Care Act. These rules will spare Delaware's 60 volunteer fire companies from a significant and unintended financial burden, but it remains my hope that Congress will find a way to come together to fix other issues with the Affordable Care Act that can only be repaired through legislation."

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