Peninsula Legislators to Small Biz: 'We've Got You Covered on ACA'

Small business owners have an opportunity to learn about how the Affordable Care Act affects their enterprises and what they need to do to prepare for the requirements of the new health care law in a free informational forum offeredMonday in Redwood City by Senator Jerry Hill, Assemblymembers Kevin Mullin and Rich Gordon.

The event at the Redwood City Council Chambers is co-hosted by the Redwood City – San Mateo County Chamber of Commerce and is conducted in conjunction with more than a dozen Peninsula and Silicon Valley chambers of commerce.

Small businesses play a key role in fulfilling the goals of the Affordable Care Act and the presentation Monday features speakers from Covered California, which is setting up the state’s health insurance marketplace, GO-Biz, the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development, and California representatives of the Small Business Majority, a national nonpartisan nonprofit focused on advocacy for small businesses.

The program is being held from 9 to 11 a.m., Monday, July 22, at the Redwood City Council Chambers, 1017 Middlefield Road in Redwood City. RSVPs to 650-212-3313 are encouraged, but walk-ins are welcome. 

“We hear from many small businesses about how the implementation of the new Affordable Care Act Requirements will affect their business and most importantly their bottom line,” said Amy Buckmaster, president and CEO of the Redwood City – San Mateo County Chamber of Commerce.  “We are honored that Senator Hill, Assemblymember Gordon and Assemblymember Mullin are presenting this information-sharing forum to small businesses to assist them in a smooth transition.”

“Implementation of the Affordable Care Act is an important topic for small businesses,” said Senator Jerry Hill, D-San Mateo County/Santa Clara County. “ACA is coming and the speakers joining us on Monday can help small businesses prepare for it, and understand what they need to do next and where they can turn for help.”


 “Thanks to the federal Affordable Care Act and the swift implementation of the California Health Benefits Exchange, known as Covered California, thousands of Californians who once lacked access to health care coverage will soon have expanded options,” said Assemblymember Rich Gordon, D-Menlo Park.  “My legislative colleagues and I have joined together to hold this informational forum to help local small businesses navigate this new terrain. We encourage small businesses seeking information about Covered California and the health insurance requirements under the ACA to attend.”

“I’m pleased my legislative colleagues and I are able to bring the experts together to inform our small business community of the upcoming changes as a result of the Affordable Care Act,” said Assemblymember Kevin Mullin, D-South San Francisco.  “I hope this opportunity will prove beneficial by providing the information our small businesses need so that they can continue to be an effective economic engine in our community.”

The event is conducted in cooperation with several chambers of commerce, including the Brisbane, Burlingame, Foster City, Half Moon Bay Coastside, Los Altos, Menlo Park, Millbrae, Mountain View, Pacifica, San Bruno, San Carlos, the San Mateo Area, South San Francisco and Sunnyvale and SAMCEDA, the San Mateo County Economic Development Association.