Health Care Priority for Small Business Coalition
Addressing increasing health care costs is the chief priority of the California chapter of the National Federation of Independent Business, leaders of the organization said Thursday in a review of the 2005-2006 legislative session, the Contra Costa Times reports.
NFIB advocates a combination of health savings accounts and association health plans to address increasing health insurance costs, according to Martyn Hopper, director of the California chapter of NFIB. Hopper said the organization anticipates an extensive negotiation process involving hospitals, insurers and other groups.
NFIB opposes at least two measures addressing health care that the Legislature approved:
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SB 815, by Senate President Pro Tempore Don Perata (D-Oakland), which would double the maximum period during which an injured worker could receive workers' compensation benefits; and
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SB 840, by Sen. Sheila Kuehl (D-Los Angeles), which would create a single-payer health insurance system in California (Dunai, Contra Costa Times, 9/1).