by Caitlin Kenney

Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick wants to help small businesses lower their health insurance premiums. The governor has proposed giving state insurance regulators more authority to review premiums before they go into effect and "disapprove rates if they are deemed unreasonable in relation to the benefits provided."

Patrick also wants to work with small businesses to establish cooperatives which would give them greater purchasing power and allow them bargain for cheaper rates. From the Boston Globe:

"The whole health care reform in Massachusetts had previously been centered around big government and big business,'' said Jon Hurst, president of the Retailers Association of Massachusetts, which represents many small businesses. "We're excited about it, because it puts the big insurers on notice that the administration, the regulators, are not going to put up with these double-digit increases anymore.''

Legislation passed in 2006, requires Massachusetts businesses with 11 or more full-time workers to offer health coverage or pay a penalty. The Health and Human Services Department says on average, small businesses pay up to 18 percent more than large firms for the same health insurance.