Among the many requirements of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act that is nipping at employers' heels is the demand to notify all workers of their health coverage options. This must be done by Oct. 1. Yet many employers have raised questions about exactly how this is to be accomplished.

The U.S. Department of Labor has now offered more detailed guidance on this ticklish matter. In response to the sample question on an FAQ page, "Is it permissible for another entity (such as an issuer, multiemployer plan, or third-party administrator) to send the Notice of Coverage Options on behalf of an employer to satisfy the employer's obligations under FLSA section 18B?" the DOL says:

"Yes!"

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Dan Cook

Dan Cook is a journalist and communications consultant based in Portland, OR. During his journalism career he has been a reporter and editor for a variety of media companies, including American Lawyer Media, BusinessWeek, Newhouse Newspapers, Knight-Ridder, Time Inc., and Reuters. He specializes in health care and insurance related coverage for BenefitsPRO.