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<div class="moz-forward-container">FYI ~<br>
<i>Karen.</i><span style="color:#1F497D"><o:p></o:p></span>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"">From:</span></b><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"">
Stratton, Sherree L. [<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:Sherree.Stratton@sba.gov">mailto:Sherree.Stratton@sba.gov</a>]
<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Thursday, August 01, 2013 10:03 AM<br>
<b>Subject:</b> Obama Administration Launches
One-Stop-Shop Website to Educate Business Owners About
the Affordable Care Act<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><img id="_x0000_i1025"
src="cid:part2.07040204.02010909@moramn.com" width="158"
border="0" height="80">
<b><i><span style="font-size:42.0pt">News Release</span></i></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="letter-spacing:-1.0pt">PRESS
OFFICE</span></b>
<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><b><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New
Roman","serif"">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New
Roman","serif"">August 1, 2013<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New
Roman","serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><b><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New
Roman","serif"">CONTACTS:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New
Roman","serif"">U.S. Department of Commerce
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New
Roman","serif"">Office of Public Affairs
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New
Roman","serif"">202-482-4883
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:publicaffairs@doc.gov">publicaffairs@doc.gov</a>
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New
Roman","serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New
Roman","serif"">U.S. Department of Treasury
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New
Roman","serif"">Sabrina Siddiqui<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:Sabrina.Siddiqui@treasury.gov"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt">Sabrina.Siddiqui@treasury.gov</span></a><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New
Roman","serif"">
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New
Roman","serif"">202-622-2812<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New
Roman","serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New
Roman","serif"">Small Business Administration
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New
Roman","serif"">Emily Cain<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:Emily.cain@sba.gov"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt">Emily.cain@sba.gov</span></a><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New
Roman","serif"">
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New
Roman","serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">U.S. Department
of Health & Human Services<span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New
Roman","serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">News Division
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">202-690-6343<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><a
moz-do-not-send="true" href="mailto:media@hhs.gov">media@hhs.gov</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify"><a
moz-do-not-send="true" href="http://www.hhs.gov/news">www.hhs.gov/news</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align:center" align="center"><b><span
style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New
Roman","serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align:center" align="center"><b><span
style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New
Roman","serif"">Obama Administration
Launches One-Stop-Shop Website to Educate Business Owners
About the Affordable Care Act<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New
Roman","serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><b><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New
Roman","serif"">WASHINGTON</span></b><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New
Roman","serif""> – The Obama Administration
today launched
</span><a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://business.usa.gov/healthcare"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt">Business.USA.gov/healthcare</span></a><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New
Roman","serif"">, a one-stop-shop Website
which will provide employers of all sizes educational
materials on how the Affordable Care Act may affect
businesses and help them compete. The site includes a
wizard tool that is tailored based on size and location, so
businesses can learn how the law helps them provide
affordable coverage options to their employees while still
meeting their bottom line. The site will act as a
user-friendly hub that connects employers to informational
content on tax credits and other provisions of the law from
the Small Business Administration, the Department of Health
and Human Services (HHS), and the Treasury Department. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New
Roman","serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New
Roman","serif"">As part of the
Administration’s ongoing dialogue with leaders of our
nation’s top businesses, this latest tool will help ensure
that employers of all sizes know what the Affordable Care
Act means for them, and have the information they need to
take advantage of the new benefits and opportunities under
the law. The Administration will work with the employer
community to ensure the site continues to be a helpful
resource for businesses and their employees, including
updating the site with additional, timely information.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New
Roman","serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“As the Affordable Care Act is implemented,
it is so important for us to work with the business community
and provide employers with the information they need,” said
U.S. Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker. “The health care
website on Business.USA.gov/healthcare will be a tremendous
resource for self-employed Americans and businesses of all
sizes to learn what the Affordable Care Act means for them.”
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New
Roman","serif""><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New
Roman","serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New
Roman","serif"">“The Affordable Care Act
helps level the playing field for small businesses,
expanding their bargaining power and their ability to offer
the kind of valuable benefit packages that attract and
retain top-quality workers. Small businesses are a
cornerstone of our economy and we are committed to working
with them to raise awareness and access to the historic tax
credits that can help small businesses and employees cover
the cost of health care,” said Treasury Secretary Jacob J.
Lew.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New
Roman","serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New
Roman","serif"">“It’s important for small
business owners to know the facts about the Affordable Care
Act and Business.USA.gov/healthcare delivers resources and
need-to-know information through one streamlined tool,” said
SBA Administrator Karen Mills. “This Website will prove to
be an invaluable resource for small employers to learn how
the law is ushering in better options for them and their
employees.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New
Roman","serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New
Roman","serif"">“The Affordable Care Act is
providing better care and better choices for millions of
Americans, and this is another great tool for employers to
learn how they can offer health coverage that makes sense
for their business and employees, and works for their bottom
line,” said HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New
Roman","serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New
Roman","serif"">Many parts of the Affordable
Care Act, which was signed into law in March, 2010, are
already in effect, including new consumer protections, and
improvements to health care coverage that ensure consumers
get more value for their premium dollars.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New
Roman","serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New
Roman","serif"">Additional benefits will take
effect in late 2013 and beyond. Starting October 1, 2013,
individuals, including those who are self-employed, and
small businesses looking for a better plan, will have a new
way to shop for private health insurance through the Health
Insurance Marketplace and the Small Business Health Options
Program (SHOP) found at HealthCare.gov. Individuals may be
eligible for lower costs on their monthly premiums and
self-employed individuals and small businesses may be
eligible for tax credits to help with the costs of coverage.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New
Roman","serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New
Roman","serif"">President Obama issued a
challenge to government agencies to think beyond their
organizational boundaries in the best interest of serving
America's business community, and start thinking and acting
more like the businesses they serve. He directed the
creation of BusinessUSA.gov, a centralized platform to make
it easier than ever for businesses to access services to
help them grow and hire. BusinessUSA.gov leverages the
resources of our partners across the federal government to
ensure that business owners get comprehensive information
and easy-to-use tools related to range of topics, including
health care. To learn more, please visit Business.USA.gov.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New
Roman","serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText" style="text-align:center" align="center"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New
Roman","serif"">###<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New
Roman","serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:gray">Sherree
Stratton</span></b><span
style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:gray">
|
</span><span
style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:gray">Economic
Development Specialist | SBA Minnesota District Office | 100
N. 6th Street, Suite 210-C, Minneapolis, MN 55403 | phone
612-370-2325 | fax 202-481-5578 |<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="" avgcert""="" color="#000000" align="left">No virus
found in this message.<br>
Checked by AVG - <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://www.avg.com">www.avg.com</a><br>
Version: 2013.0.3392 / Virus Database: 3209/6543 - Release Date:
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