COEUR d'ALENE - Business consultants have been facing "a lot of nervous business owners" following the upholding of the new health care reform, said Lance Fenton, CPA at Cooper Norman.

Speaking on a health care reform panel on Thursday morning at North Idaho College, Fenton said most companies worry how they'll be impacted financially.

"We're trying to put their minds at ease," Fenton said.

Thursday morning's forum on the Affordable Care Act, presented by PacificSource Health Plans, glossed over the law's requirements for businesses.

Companies with at least 50 employees will have to provide workers with health care coverage. Or, they can pay a $2,000 penalty per employee they don't insure, who will instead seek coverage through health insurance exchanges provided by the state or federal government.

Companies of any size must educate their employees about their insurance options.

The Congressional Budget Office has projected that under the new act, the number of uninsured will drop from 50 million today to 22 million by 2016.

Panelist Stephen Cilley, CEO of Ataraxis, Inc., said he didn't think many Idaho businesses would be dramatically affected by the new law.

"Most businesses in Idaho aren't over 50 people," said Cilley, whose Boise company handles employee services for businesses.

But panelist Shelli Stayner, with Mercer human resource consultant, said there is debate among small employers over whether to rely on a state insurance exchange, if one is created.

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Health care worries businesses