05/06/2008
CONTACT: Jim Brown, 615-337-5507 or Todd Pack, 615-872-5897
'Exactly the kind of legislation Tennessee's small businesses need'
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Jim Brown, state director of the National Federation of Independent Business, said a measure that cleared the state Legislature today would make it easier for small business owners to find and keep affordable health insurance for their employees and their families.
"This is exactly the kind of legislation Tennessee's small businesses need," Brown said. "It isn't a cure-all, but it's a big step in the right direction."
Representatives approved House Bill 4066 by a vote of 97-0. The Senate unanimously passed it earlier this session. The bill was sent today to Gov. Phil Bredesen.
Sponsored by Reps. Charles Curtiss (Sparta) and Charles Sargent (Franklin), HB 4066 would let small business owners join together to negotiate for health insurance rates and give small business owners an important option to look for better rate predictability and stability.
"Healthcare is the No. 1 issue facing small business owners in Tennessee and nationwide," Brown said. "Rising costs are making it harder for small businesses to offer medical benefits."
Only 47 percent of the nation's small businesses offer health benefits, according to a study by the NFIB Research Foundation. One percent to two percent of small business drop health benefits each year, and many new businesses can't afford to offer it, the study said.
"Because they don't have hundreds of employees, small businesses nearly always end up paying more for coverage than big companies do," Brown said. "NFIB/Tennessee is grateful to the entire state Legislature, especially Reps. Curtiss and Sargent and Sen. Steve Southerland, who sponsored the Senate version of the bill. We hope Gov. Bredesen will agree to sign it into law."
