New data from New Highroads Compliance shows employers are still facing challenges with the Affordable Care Act (ACA) communication requirements, and compliance-related challenges. And with the increased communication requirements stemming from the healthcare law, organizations have a murky picture of the aggregate costs of writing, producing and distributing documents.

New Highroads predicts that the continued challenge of compliance could be the “contributing factor” to the decision of some employers to move their employees and or retirees to a private exchange. Nearly 88 percent of survey respondents indicated that they've mulled moving to a private exchange in the next five years. However, New Highlands' research shows that private exchanges neither will not eliminate plan sponsor responsibly for compliance.

“What we are seeing is the continued struggle of employers to comply with ACA requirements, yet wisely manage resources and costs. It is a challenge that will only increase as new regulations under the ACA take effect, current safe harbors and postponed effective dates expire, and enforcement of the regulations begin in earnest,” said Kim Buckey, principal, compliance communication services,