For immediate release
Contact: Alisa Harrison, 202-628-8000
aharrison@franchise.org
www.twitter.com/franchising411 


WASHINGTON, June 10, 2010—Counselor to President Barack Obama and Director of the White House Office on Health Reform Nancy-Ann DeParle met with IFA members via webinar today for a review of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.  This was the third in a series of webinars the IFA has conducted to help franchise small businesses understand various aspects of the new law and its implementation.

“We are delighted that Nancy-Ann DeParle was able to participate in today’s webinar with franchise business leaders,” said David French, IFA vice president of government relations.  “It is important for the Administration to hear directly from small franchise business owners during this critical time when the federal agencies that will enforce the law begin to develop guidance for employers and employees.”

Ms DeParle was joined by Ms. Nancy Taylor of Greenberg Traurig, who has conducted several webinars on the new health care law for IFA designed to help franchise businesses earn about the complexities of this law.

 “While IFA opposed the new law during congressional debate, our focus now is on educating our small business owners about the potential impact new regulations will have on their operations,” French said.  The IFA will be very active in the regulatory process to ensure that the inevitable unintended consequences that accompany vast new mandates on employers are addressed ahead of time.”

The IFA has a long history of advocating for changes in health care laws that allow employers to provide health care benefits to their employees and restrain ever increasing health insurance costs. The IFA will continue to support enactment of legislation that will allow small businesses, like franchise systems, to pool together to purchase coverage, including across state lines. 

“The new law was about expanding access to health coverage for all Americans.  There is more work to be done to address the cost concerns of franchised businesses,” said French.  “Even though the Patient Protection & Affordable Care Act is now the law, franchise businesses owners will not realize lower health costs immediately.”

The webinar with DeParle will be available for viewing later today at

www.franchise.org

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About the International Franchise Association 
The International Franchise Association is the world’s oldest and largest organization representing franchising worldwide. Celebrating 50 years of excellence, education and advocacy, IFA protects, enhances and promotes franchising through government relations, public relations and educational programs.  Through its awareness campaign highlighting the theme,
Franchising: Building Local Businesses, One Opportunity at a Time,IFA promotes the 21 million jobs and $2.3 trillion of economic activity generated by franchising. IFA members include franchise companies in over 90 different business format categories, individual franchisees and companies that support the industry in marketing, law and business development.

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