In the race for the best workers, small firms have always been at a bit of a competitive disadvantage when it comes to benefits they can offer. The Affordable Care Act is expected to change that, said Dr. Helen Levy, a research associate professor with the University of Michigan School of Public Health. “That's going to be less of an issue now that workers will have the option of getting coverage from someone other than an employer,” Dr. Levy said. “And we expect that to improve the quality of the worker job matches that are seen in the labor market, and that is good for everyone.”