More mid-size employers say stepping back from health carereform would greatly improve their economic forecasts for the nextyear, according to a study by Deloitte Development L.L.C.

In fact, 41% of employers agree with this sentiment, up from 33%in 2012 and 23% in 2011.

“Rolling back health care reform ranked a very close second toreducing corporate tax rates as the most popular initiative theU.S. government could implement to help middle-market companiesgrow in the coming year,” the study said.

Larger companies appear to be more resigned to implementation ofthe Affordable Care Act than smaller companies, the study found,with only 38% of companies with 1,000 to 3,000 employees rankinghealth care rollback as one of their top two government priorities,compared to 53% of companies with 50 to 99 employees that ranked itas a top priority.

Compliance costs are especially of concern. While 71% ofrespondents believe compliance costs will rise, 41% of respondentsanticipate high growth that exceeds other regulatoryrequirements.

Overall, reductions have been seen when it comes toyear-over-year health care cost increases; however, 60% of mid-sizeemployers report that medical costs are the biggest barriers totheir economic growth. This is up from 51% in 2012 and 33% in2011.

As part of health care reform, employers with more than 50full-time workers must offer qualified, affordable group healthplans to their employees in 2014 or pay a penalty.

More than a quarter of respondents say they plan to hire morepart-time and contract workers in 2013 and 2014, and of theemployers expecting to bring in more part-time and contractworkers, 38% say they anticipate doing so specifically because ofhealth care reform.

This article was originally published at BenefitsPro.com, a sistersite of Credit Union Times.