End of Per Diem?

[hdawnRN]

I am not a per diem nurse, however, the large hospital organization that work for is ending per diem nursing, presumably at the beginning of the next year. We have been told that all hospitals are straying away from per diem, so those nurses would not be able to find those types of jobs in other hospitals either. This is some stipulation resulting from an Obama Care view... But many nurses are skeptical. Have any of you been urged to transition from the per diem position before you're forced to?

[emtb2rn, BSN, RN, EMT-B]

In my area of NJ per-diems are still being hired and there hasn't been any talk of reducing hours.

Need to check the ACA, I think the operative word is "offer".

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

Our PA health system has always offered those working 24hrs/wk full health insurance and partial time off benefits, so not an issue.

[dudette10, MSN, RN]

I have done some research on the ACA, and apparently, the change goes into effect 1/1/14. All employees working more than 30 hrs/week on average over the previous 12 month period must be offered affordable health insurance. If any one employee then uses the premium tax credit to buy their own insurance, the onus is on the employer to prove that health insurance was offered to that specific employee. If the employer cannot prove it, the employer will be fined $2000 PER EMPLOYEE (not just the one employee who used the premium tax credit).

How employers go about complying with these changes is variable.

There's a whole other set of rules regarding what constitutes "affordable" and fines associated with that.

[dudette10, MSN, RN]

Our PA health system has always offered those working 24hrs/wk full health insurance and partial time off benefits, so not an issue.

In some systems, I don't doubt it, but per diem where I work means a higher wage without being offered any benefits...no pension, no PTO, no sick time, no health insurance. The higher wage is significant...about $20/ hr more plus normal shift diffs.