On Monday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 1624, the “Protecting Affordable Coverage for Employees Act.” Enactment of this legislation is critically important in preventing small to midsize businesses from experiencing significant premium increases.

In 2016, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is scheduled to expand the definition of the small group market to include all employers with 1-100 employees—adding employers in the 51-100 employee category. An analysis from actuarial firm Oliver Wyman estimates that this expansion would result in premium increases for nearly two-thirds of workers in small to midsize firms in 2016. H.R. 1624 would protect small to midsized employers and employees at those firms from significant premium increases by redefining “small employer” under the ACA as one with 50 or fewer employees and giving states the option to expand the definition to include employers with up to 100 employees.

Earlier this year, the Big “I” joined the 50-100 Coalition, a group of business organizations, in an effort to pass this important legislation. The mission of the coalition is to protect businesses and employees by giving states the flexibility to determine what constitutes a small group market so businesses can maintain their current health care plans.

The Big “I” is optimistic that the Senate will take up this legislation as soon as possible. The association will continue working with its coalition partners, members of Congress and their staffs to ensure the Senate passes this legislation and the President signs it into law.

Wyatt Stewart is Big “I” director of federal government affairs.