In contrast, Anthem lists 10 states that it anticipates will continue the original definition of a small group, which is employers with between one and 50 eligible employees. That group includes Connecticut, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, Ohio and Wisconsin.

Notably, the different approaches anticipated from states do not follow easily-identifiable political divisions. While all four states that will expand the definition have Democratic governors, all except California have at least one chamber of the legislature controlled by Republicans.

Similarly, the states that will likely keep the current restrictions on the small group market are run by both Democrats and Republicans.

As Republicans have gradually shifted attention away from PPACA in favor of other issues, the country has seen more evidence of collaboration between the two parties at both the national and state level to improve the law.

The PACE Act, which passed Congress with overwhelming bipartisan support, is the 14th bill President Obama has signed to make small changes to the original bill passed in 2010.

Furthermore, the Republican-controlled Montana legislature voted earlier this year to join the federally-funded Medicaid expansion that the state had previously rejected, while the independent governor of Alaska, Bill Walker, has also expanded Medicaid for his state. Other GOP-run states have sought federal waivers to expand Medicaid through models slightly different than that called for by the feds.