Most Calif. Small Businesses Say ACA Has Neutral, Positive Effects

The Affordable Care Act has had a neutral or positive effect on nearly two-thirds of small businesses in California, according to a survey by California Bank & Trust, the Silicon Valley Business Journal reports (Baumann, Silicon Valley Business Journal, 5/6).

More than 680 small business owners in the state responded to the survey, which was conducted in April.

It found that about 63% of respondents believed the law had affected their business in a neutral or positive way (California Bank & Trust release, 5/6).

In a release, Tory Nixon, executive vice president of small business lending at California Bank & Trust, said small business owners "are shrugging off these regulatory changes" and are "quite optimistic about the future growth of their business"

The survey also found that:

63% of respondents anticipated that growth in their business will increase over the next 12 months;
92% of respondents planned to hire one to 10 additional employees this year; and
84% of respondents planned to continue or increase investments in technology over the next year (Silicon Valley Business Journal, 5/6).

This is part of the California Healthline Daily Edition, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.