From the Chamber
The Greater Haverhill Chamber of Commerce commends Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick for taking a stand against large health insurance providers who are slamming small businesses with outrageous premium hikes.
We hear it all the time from our members, who mostly are the little guy: 'We can't afford health insurance,' they say.
In addition to the governor, who stated his commitment to rejecting these premium hikes of in many cases over 20 percent, state Sen. Steven Baddour is working to push a bill through the Senate that will allow for small business group purchasing of insurance.
This is the exact way that large companies are able to keep their costs down, because they are able to purchase in bulk. Why are the corporations getting a break when small businesses are left to pay the price?
Businesses who are members of the Chamber are able to, in most instances, take advantage of group rates by going through the Chamber's provider. However, this is not helpful to all businesses, which is why legislation is needed. In addition to Sen. Baddour's bill, the Chamber also commends Rep. Harriett Stanley's efforts on a similar bill on the House side.
We are proud to be one of only two chambers in Massachusetts represented on the Small Business Roundtable that was organized by Gov. Patrick's secretary of Economic Development in the spring of 2009.
I participate in bi-weekly conference calls with the group and attend monthly Roundtable meetings in the governor's office.
The concern over the health insurance costs for small businesses was strongly voiced during these meetings.
Members, myself included, were also very worried about the Data Security regulations that were being passed for businesses in Massachusetts who accept and store personal information.
The regulations, which were supposed to pass in December, were re-evaluated based on my urging and new regulations were formed. They took effect on Monday, March 1.
The Greater Haverhill Chamber of Commerce hosted a seminar on these regulations in January and representatives of more than 75 businesses attended.
These are just two of the ways in which the Greater Haverhill Chamber of Commerce is working hard on the issues most important to the business community.
Information on both topics is available by contacting the Chamber.
The Greater Haverhill Chamber of Commerce is the Voice of Business; Heart of Community.
Chamber President James Jajuga's column will be published monthly in The Haverhill Gazette.
