Colorado Director Hunter Railey testifies in support of HB19-1168, which authorizes Colorado to seek a state innovation waiver from the U.S.
Policy Statements
Small Business Majority writes in support of AB 1611 concerning out-of-network emergency room bills, or surprise billing. The legislation would extend protections for consumers receiving emergency care and ensure that they are not billed for more than their in-network cost sharing responsibilities. Additionally, AB 1611 will help control overall costs by preventing hospitals from setting payment higher than 150% of the Medicare rate or the average contracted rate paid by the specific health insurer for the same services in the same region.
Colorado Director Hunter Railey testifies in support of HB19-1174, which addresses suprise out-of-network billing. The bill would require healthcare providers and facilities to disclose service performed by out-of-network providers and disclose the claims and payments process. It would also require consumers receive easy to understand notifications of their rights regarding bills from out-of-network providers, and sets “reasonable rates of payment” for these out-of-network providers.
Small Business Majority writes in support of SB 534, which encourages supplier diversity across insurance industries in California, creating opportunities for minority-owned small businesses. Minority small business ownership is growing at a significantly higher rate than other small businesses, and diverse entrepreneurs in particular represent enormous economic power within California. This legislation will ensure more dollars spent by California’s insurance companies go to businesses owned by diverse entrepreneurs, strengthening the state's economy overall.
Small Business Majority writes in support of AB 1577, which would encourage increased local partnerships between public agencies and technical assistance providers to microenterprises. Increased partnership between government agencies and technical assistance centers will encourage vital investment in California’s job creators and chief exporters, particularly helping women entrepreneurs and entrepreneurs of color. Indeed, increasing input from microenterprise development agencies into government programs will improve effectiveness of government programs.
On April 1, Small Business Majority filed an amicus brief urging the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit to uphold the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act, which is being challenged in Texas v. United States. In the brief, Small Business Majority contended that even though the ACA’s individual mandate penalty has been repealed, the healthcare law’s remaining components must be upheld in full because the ACA is critical to the success of small businesses, solo entrepreneurs and their employees.
Small Business Majority writes in support of AB 539, the Fair Access to Credit Act, which would eliminate the practice of charging unaffordable interest rates on consumer loans between $2,500 and $10,000. The legislation would protect small business borrowers from the predatory practices of triple-digit lenders, and as a result, greatly benefit entrepreneurs and small businesses in California that rely on consumer loans to grow their businesses.
Small Business Majority has created a comprehensive state policy agenda to ensure entrepreneurship is at the center of a thriving and inclusive economy in Missouri. The state’s more than 520,000 small businesses employ 1.1 million people (about half of the private workforce) and created more than 32,000 jobs in 2015.
Small Business Majority writes in opposition to the Regulatory Sandbox Act (HB 2825), which would permit a range of financial institutions to test unlicensed financial products on consumers, including entrepreneurs. We believe this legislation would open up small business owners and entrepreneurs to predatory lending practices.
Small Business Majority writes in support of HB19-1174, which concerns out-of-network health care services, or surprise billing. The legislation would bring more transparency and affordability to pricing for healthcare services, benefitting small businesses’ bottom lines and helping to control costs in the healthcare system overall.