Health coverage: small employers.

Existing federal law, the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) , enacts various health care coverage market reforms that took effect January 1, 2014. Among other things, PPACA requires each state, by January 1, 2014, to establish an American Health Benefit Exchange that facilitates the purchase of qualified health plans by qualified individuals and qualified small employers. Existing state law establishes the California Health Benefit Exchange (the Exchange) within state government for the purpose of facilitating the enrollment of qualified individuals and qualified small employers in qualified health plans, and specifies the powers and duties of the board governing the Exchange. Existing law requires the board to establish the Small Business Health Options Program, otherwise referred to as the SHOP Program, separate from the activities of the board related to the individual market, to assist qualified small employers in facilitating the enrollment of their employees in qualified health plans offered through the Exchange in the small employer market in a manner consistent with a specified provision of the federal act. This bill would change the name of the SHOP Program to the Covered California for Small Business Exchange and make related conforming changes.