Business balking at health changes in Massachusetts

Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick has proposed asking businesses, insurers, and hospitals to kick in about $100 million to close a gap in funding for the state's health insurance law. Consumer groups praised the proposal, saying patients were asked to pay more when copayments and deductibles for subsidized health plans were increased earlier this year, and now it is time for others to step up and pay their share. But business and insurance industry leaders are opposed to Patrick's plan, saying it is unfair to ask them to pay more, especially during an economic downturn.