Creating an ACA Look Back Group

You can define one or more Affordable Care Act (ACA) look-back groups containing specific Standard Measurement, Administrative, and Stability periods.

A look-back group is assigned to one or more resources to enable Vista to properly calculate hours worked within a look-back measurement scheme. Look back groups can also be used to classify employees for ACA tracking purposes.

Note: Combined, the Standard and Administrative periods cannot exceed the length of time defined in the Stability period.

Look back groups are HR company specific. Once created, look back groups are assigned to a resource in HR Resources. To learn more, see About ACA Look Back Groups.

To create a new look-back group for ACA monitoring and compliance: 

  1. Open the HR ACA Look Back Group form.
  2. In the Look Back Group field, enter a unique numeric look-back group identifier.
  3. Enter a description for this look back group in the Description field.
  4. In the Look Back Period tab, in the Sequence field, press Tab to create a new sequence . For example, for a particular look back group, you might want to create different evaluative sequence periods for each year.
  5. In the Measurement Start and Measurement End fields, enter dates in MM/DD/YY format.
This is the standard period of time measured for employee classification and eligibility purposes. This is the period when the hours worked by ongoing employees are counted.
  6. In the Admin Start and Admin End fields, enter dates in MM/DD/YY format.
This is an optional period of time between the standard measurement period and the associated stability period. An employer can use this time period to collect information and make decisions about the results of the measurement period. 


    If you are using the optional Administrative period:

    • The Admin Start date must immediately follow the Measurement End date The Stability Start date must immediately follow the Admin End date

  7. In the Stability Start and Stability End fields, enter dates in MM/DD/YY format.
This period of time generally corresponds to a benefit plan year when coverage is offered. This is the period in which the results of the standard measurement period apply. For example, if the employee averages 30 hours per week during the measurement period, they should be classified as full-time for the entire stability period. If you are using the administration period, the stability start date must immediately follow the admin end date.
  8. Combined, the Standard and Administrative periods cannot exceed the length of time defined in the Stability period.
  9. Press the Save icon to save your created sequence.

    You can now assign look back groups to resources in HR Resources. For more information, see Initializing Monthly Coverage Offer Dates.