Healthcare

Small Business Majority wrote to Assemblymember Buffy Wicks in support of AB 1993, legislation that would enact a statewide COVID-19 vaccine mandate for all businesses in California and their employees and independent contractors to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. AB 1993 would remove the onus from entrepreneurs of enforcing their own public health protocols in the workplace, thus allowing them to focus on getting back to work at full capacity.

On February 24, Small Business Majority's Colorado Director Lindsey Vigoda submitted comments concerning the methodology for calculating premium rate reductions for the Colorado Options' small group market standardardized health benefit plan. We encourage the Colorado Division of Insurance to revise and establish fair rules to better serve the needs of small businesses.

Today, Government Affairs Director, Awesta Sarkash, submitted a letter to the DC Council's Committee on Health and Business & Economic Development opposing B24-0305, the Professional Employer Oganization Registration Act of 2021. This bill would require professional employer organizations that offer health insurance in the District to register with the Department of Insurance, Securities, and Banking. This bill would have negative impacts on the marketplace—and consequently on small businesses that already struggle with healthcare costs.

Small Business Majority has created a comprehensive state policy agenda to ensure entrepreneurship is at the center of a thriving and inclusive economy in Colorado. The state’s more than 715,00 small businesses employ 1.1 million people, accounting for 99.5% of all businesses in Colorado.

Today, Small Business Majority along with 13 local, state, and national organizations, sent a letter to President Joe Biden, Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer, and West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin urging the leaders to reignite negotiations surrounding the Build Back Better package. The Build Back Better package provisions include access to affordable healthcare, childcare, paid family and medical leave, and leveling the playing field on taxes, which would benefit the small business ecosystem. 

Today, Awesta Sarkash, Government Affairs Director, submitted a letter in support of SB 376 which would create a prescription drug affordability review board in Virginia. The review board would protect state residents, state and local governments, commercial health plans, health care providers, pharmacies licensed in the Commonwealth, and other stakeholders within the health care system from the high costs of prescription drug products. 

On December 30, Small Business Majority alongside the American Independent Business Alliance and network member Mary Sue Milliken filed an amicus brief urging the court to uphold the administration’s COVID-19 vaccination and testing requirements for businesses with 100 or more employees. The brief outlines how workplace-related safety policies will impact small businesses, as well as research demonstrating the strong support for the rule from the business community.

Small Business Majority has released its comprehensive state policy agenda to ensure entrepreneurship is at the center of a thriving and inclusive economy in Virginia during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s critical that state lawmakers enact policies to support and empower these entrepreneurs by guaranteeing that they have access to capital to sustain their businesses, affordable and quality healthcare and the tools and benefits they need to grow now and in the future.