State Weighing Delay Of Jan. Launch For Small Business Health Exchange

An abrupt cancellation of a series of small business exchange workshops by Maryland health officials has fueled speculation that for the second time this year the launch of the small business health insurance exchange, known as SHOP, will be delayed.

“We postponed the [workshops] to focus our outreach efforts on the individual exchange,” said Maryland Health Benefit Exchange Communications Director Danielle Davis.

There have been persistent rumors of a delay, and there was a meeting Friday by a select group of exchange officials, advisory committee members and some health insurance brokers, who reportedly discussed a number of scenarios surrounding a delay to the Jan. 1 SHOP launch date.
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