COEUR d'ALENE - Business consultants have been facing \"a lot of nervous business owners\" following the upholding of the new health care reform, said Lance Fenton, CPA at Cooper Norman. <\/p>\n
Speaking on a health care reform panel on Thursday morning at North Idaho College, Fenton said most companies worry how they'll be impacted financially. <\/p>\n
\"We're trying to put their minds at ease,\" Fenton said. <\/p>\n
Thursday morning's forum on the Affordable Care Act, presented by PacificSource Health Plans, glossed over the law's requirements for businesses. <\/p>\n
Companies with at least 50 employees will have to provide workers with health care coverage. Or, they can pay a $2,000 penalty per employee they don't insure, who will instead seek coverage through health insurance exchanges provided by the state or federal government. <\/p>\n
Companies of any size must educate their employees about their insurance options. <\/p>\n
The Congressional Budget Office has projected that under the new act, the number of uninsured will drop from 50 million today to 22 million by 2016. <\/p>\n
Panelist Stephen Cilley, CEO of Ataraxis, Inc., said he didn't think many Idaho businesses would be dramatically affected by the new law. <\/p>\n
\"Most businesses in Idaho aren't over 50 people,\" said Cilley, whose Boise company handles employee services for businesses. <\/p>\n
But panelist Shelli Stayner, with Mercer human resource consultant, said there is debate among small employers over whether to rely on a state insurance exchange, if one is created. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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