HHS limits Obamacare options for small businesses

A final rule released Friday confirms that a provision of the health law aimed at helping small businesses provide insurance to their employees will be limited until 2015.

The Washington Post: Health Exchange Options For Small Businesses Will Be Limited Until 2015
The Obama administration confirmed Friday that a piece of the 2010 health-care law aimed at helping small businesses provide insurance to their workers will be delayed by a year. The office in charge of Medicaid and Medicare announced that it was on track for an Oct. 1 launch of the federal SHOP Exchange, an online marketplace where companies with fewer than 50 employees would be able to buy insurance for their workers and get a tax credit. But employees will not be able to choose from a variety of plans, as was initially expected (Somashekhar, 5/31).

CQ HealthBeat: Final Rule Keeps No-Choice Provision For Workers In Federal SHOP Exchanges
Federal officials released a final rule on the small-business exchanges on Friday that maintains a controversial provision in the proposed rule eliminating employee choice of health plans in federally run exchanges. Under the health care law, the marketplace in each state will include a Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP) exchange designed to help small businesses provide health insurance for their workers (Adams, 5/31).

The Hill: HHS Delays ObamaCare Option For Small Businesses, Says It's Too Complicated
The Obama administration confirmed Friday that it will delay part of a new program for small businesses under President Obama's healthcare law. Some congressional Democrats, including Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) have criticized the delay, which will prevent small-business employees from choosing among multiple healthcare plans (Baker, 5/31).

Also in the news, a study finds ways the health law is good for entrepreneurs and small businesses -

The New York Times Economix: Affordable Care Act Could Be Good For Entrepreneurship
The Affordable Care Act is expected to produce a sharp increase in entrepreneurship next year, according to a new report from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the Urban Institute and Georgetown University's Health Policy Institute. The number of self-employed people is expected to rise by 1.5 million -; a relative increase of more than 11 percent -; as a direct result of the health care overhaul (Catherine Rampall, 5/31).

National Journal: Why Obamacare Is Good For Entrepreneurs
Large businesses have been grousing about new rules in the health care law that will raise their costs. But a new study highlights how the Affordable Care Act may actually be a boon to small businesses and entrepreneurs. By guaranteeing that individuals can purchase comprehensive and affordable insurance plans, the law will allow would-be entrepreneurs to leave their corporate jobs without worrying that they could become uninsured (Sanger-Katz, 6/3).