By Anne Saunders, Associated Press Writer | February 18, 2005

CONCORD, N.H. -- Gov. John Lynch and a bipartisan group of state senators announced a compromise Friday to reform a health insurance law that hurt many of the state's small employers.

"Although passed with good intentions, the impact of SB110 on our small businesses has been devastating," Lynch said, noting that health insurance costs shot up abruptly for many employers. "These increases have made it difficult for our small businesses to grow, to hire new employees, to invest in new equipment."

With 13 senators signed on, the bill has enough votes to pass the Senate. It also would have to pass the House to become law.

"This bill provides stability to the market, it provides efficiency and fairness," Sen. Ted Gatsas, R-Manchester and one of the chief sponsors, said at a hearing Friday.

Co-sponsor Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-Exeter, spoke of one restaurant owner in her town who stopped offering health insurance to his employees when his rates went up 75 percent. "We all end up paying for the uninsured," she said.

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