Many Massachusetts hospitals would be required to make a one-time contribution to a fund to help small businesses pay for health insurance, under legislation that the state Senate will vote on May 18. Senate President Therese Murray inserted the measure into a more sweeping bill she unveiled last month because almost no hospitals answered her call for voluntary contributions. Murray hopes to raise $100 million to help small employers, who have faced double-digit health insurance rate increases. She said the money would reduce their premiums by about 2.5%.
