September 27, 2013. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act suffered yet another small blow when the Obama Administration announced another delay, albeit minor. Small businesses will not be able to enroll online in the SHOP exchanges until November, a delay from the original October 1, 2013 deadline. They may, however, enroll through mail or fax on October 1. Spanish-speakers will also be forced to wait. The Spanish version of the government’s Obamacare website will not be available by the original October 1 date.
Meanwhile, Republicans are attempting to tie the law with the Continuing Resolution addressing the budget now, and the debt ceiling, which is shaping up to be the next big battle. They are attempting to leverage these must-pass measures to de-fund or eliminate the law’s effect to the greatest extent possible.