2d hearing on health coverage ordered

Governor Deval Patrick has ordered another look at rising health care premiums and their impact on small businesses.

Yesterday, he said a second set of hearings has been scheduled to review double-digit premium increases. The governor said Feb. 10 that he was ordering insurers to submit proposed small business rate increases for state review. A political rival, Republican Charles Baker, said the move is a campaign-year stunt. Health insurers said it was unrealistic.

The first statewide hearings were in November. Insurance Commissioner Joseph Murphy says hearings scheduled for early March will probably be the last.