Entertainment Partners Introduces Affordable Care Act (ACA) Solutions for the Entertainment Industry -- EP Cares™

BURBANK, Calif., Aug. 21, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Entertainment Partners (EP), the leader in payroll, residuals, and production services, today launched EP Cares™, a transferable health plan and innovative solution to the Affordable Care Act (ACA) for the entertainment industry. After months of extensive research and analysis of ACA requirements, EP carefully selected best-in-class service partners, Lockton Companies and Anthem Blue Cross, to deliver EP Cares™ medical, dental, vision, and life insurance plans. These plans are fully compliant and specifically designed to meet the unique challenges and transient nature of the non-union production community.

"Compliance with the ACA is a highly-complex endeavor that is only compounded by the specific needs of the film and television production workforce that move from one production to another," notes EP President and CEO Mark Goldstein. "We have assembled the most qualified resources to create a ready-made solution so the myriad of production entities won't have to navigate this maze on their own and risk exposure to hefty penalties for non-compliance."

The EP Cares™ solution enables production workers to utilize a state-of-the-art online decision tool to analyze multiple plan options and select the one that best suits their particular needs. The coverage is transferable so that production personnel may carry the same plan with the same doctors and in many instances, the same contribution rates, across participating production companies. For companies utilizing EP's payroll services, EP can deduct workers' share of the premium directly from their paychecks. However, you do not need to be an EP payroll client to make use of EP Cares™ plan offerings.

EP partnered with Lockton, the largest independent benefits consulting and brokerage firm, to develop and support EP Cares™. "As a result of ACA, the medical insurance marketplace has become highly volatile and increasingly complex," says Lissa Thomson, Senior Vice President of Lockton's Pacific employee benefits operations. "This single carrier platform offers a highly efficient process to provide quality benefits at the lowest possible cost. Combined with state-of-the-art technology, EP Cares™ leverages the purchasing power of non-union production workforce pooling."

Although the Treasury Department recently announced an extension of the employer mandate until January 2015, many production entities are opting to begin their compliance in January 2014. "Many production companies are looking to 2014 as the time to ensure their insurance, data management, and reporting systems are in place, running correctly, and meeting all ACA requirements prior to the official employer mandate deadline," adds EP Senior Vice President and Chief Labor Counsel, Joseph Scudiero. "EP is excited to partner with its clients to provide solutions that the industry can trust."

For more information, visit the ACA Compliance Center at www.entertainmentpartners.com/aca.

About Entertainment Partners:
Entertainment Partners is the global leader in entertainment payroll, residuals, tax incentives, finance, and other integrated production management solutions with 17 offices in the U.S., Canada, London, and Tokyo. Combining its comprehensive capabilities, extensive resources, and unparalleled industry experience, EP collaborates with clients to help them produce the most cost-effective and efficient film, television, digital, and commercial projects. Its proprietary VISTA accounting systems and Movie Magic Budgeting and Scheduling programs are the industry standards. The company also provides casting and payroll for background actors through its legendary Central Casting division, a Hollywood icon since 1925. Established more than 30 years ago, EP is a 100% employee-owned company where each employee has a vested interest in upholding the company's highest standards of service, integrity, transparency, and accountability.

PRESS CONTACT:
Suzanne Parker
Corporate Communications     
Entertainment Partners  
Phone: 818.955.6354
[email protected]       

SOURCE Entertainment Partners