U.S. Chamber of Commerce finds small business owners wary of health law regs

The survey finds that the regulations rank at the top of small business owners' concerns. In other news, the National Journal examines the future of accountable care organizations.

Politico Pro: Survey: ACA Regs Worry Small-Business Owners
A new survey by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce finds that health care regulations rank at the top of the list of small business owners' concerns -- even though the Obama administration has been trying to sell the health care reform law as relief for small businesses. In a first quarter small-business outlook study by the Chamber -- which opposes the Affordable Care Act -- 38 percent of small-business executives surveyed said health care related regulations are the most challenging ones that they face. In addition, 73 percent of those surveyed said the health care law is proving an obstacle to hiring more employees for their business (Smith, 4/16).

National Journal: Are ACOs Already Over?
Last week the federal government announced it had signed up 27 hospital and doctor groups to participate as accountable care organizations, one of the health reform law's great cost-saving hopes. The number is well under federal projections from October, which predicted up to 270 groups would sign up to become Medicare accountable care organizations, or ACOs. The ACO program pays bonuses to doctor and hospital groups if they successfully coordinate care and improve health outcomes for certain Medicare patients. The groups can eventually lose money from the federal government if they don't meet those standards (McCarthy, 4/16).