The Affordable Care Act created the Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP) marketplaces to make it easier for small businesses to buy coverage for their employees. To date, 17 states and the District of Columbia have established SHOP marketplaces, while a federally run model operates in the remaining states. Georgetown University researchers say in a new blog post that, although the federally run marketplaces got off to a rocky start, several changes have been made to improve employer and employee experiences.