Many small businesses in New York are facing health care premium increases of more than 20 percent this year. Will health care reform help them cope with rising costs? The Society of American Business Writers and Editors (SABEW) is holding a panel discussion as part of its Economic Recovery Conference, to be held the afternoon of Oct. 1 at the CUNY Graduate School of Journalism near Times Square. Panelists include Mark Wagar, chief executive of Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield; Rima Cohen, counselor to the secretary for health policy of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; and small business owner Rosina Rubin, who recently got notice of another double-digit rate hike for her small New York–based transportation company. The panel, sponsored by the Commonwealth Fund, will be moderated by Elizabeth MacBride, who oversees small business coverage for Crain's New York Business. To register, go to: http://sabew.org/events/annual-conferences/2010-fall-conference/.
