Ocean State Today

State policymakers in Rhode Island are evaluating a proposed merger between the state's two largest hospital groups, Lifespan and CNE. The merger is projected to account for 80% of the market share for hospital services within the state. This potential consolidation has raised concerns about its impact on small businesses.

The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) is urging those involved in the decision-making process to consider how this merger might affect small businesses, particularly regarding health insurance costs. "We ask that you contact those who oversee this process and urge them to consider the cost impact on the state’s employers and workers," NFIB stated.

Health care expenses remain a significant concern for small business owners. The NFIB emphasizes that lawmakers should work towards reducing these costs rather than creating conditions where they might increase further. They encourage business owners to participate in public hearings by sharing their experiences related to rising health expenses.

The NFIB suggests several questions for business owners to address in their communications with policymakers:

- Do you offer health insurance to your workers? How many workers do you employ?

- Have employee deductibles increased over the last 10 years?

- Have you increased the share of health insurance premiums that your employees must pay?

- What has your average increase in health insurance costs been over the last 3 years? 6 years? 10 years?

- In order to offer health insurance, have you had to cut back or not offer other workers’ benefits?

The organization provides an action alert system with a draft message that can be customized by users, encouraging them to include personal stories and data when reaching out to legislators.