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NORTH CENTRAL MASS.com June 2014 July 2014 August 2014 Volume XXXII, No. 2 Federal healthcare officials cut some slack for Massachusetts’ small businesses Action allows better rates for Chamber members assachusetts has received an extension from the federal gov- making them more affordable for many consumers. Mernment allowing health insurers to continue to use the current The NCM Chamber’s health insurance administrator, Kathy small-group rating factors, including the group purchasing coopera- Kwedor, reports that “Insurance companies had to change how they tive factor, at current levels through at least 2015. rate their customers after the Affordable Care Act, and some went The NCM Chamber has been providing health insurance to from having no deductibles (to) now they--pretty much--all have de- member businesses for over 20 years. Today, the NCM Chamber of- ductibles... as a means of getting the rates down.” fers group rates to its members from a wide choice of providers, in- “Besides discounted rates, all our plans now have pediatric den- cluding Fallon Community Health Plan, Tufts, Harvard Pilgrim and tal coverage for kids up to age 19,” she continues. “Also, rates are others along with plans through the Chamber Health Coop, which now based on an entire family’s income, and children are covered was established several years ago. up to age 26.” When the Affordable Care (Obamacare) Act went into effect na- She points out that extra choices made available because of tionally, it set new rules concerning the rating factors that are used to Obamacare haven’t changed the lower-cost advantages of group calculate group health insurance premiums for companies of under health insurance through the Chamber for most small businesses, 50 employees. The new rating factors could raise rates for small and specific discounts depend on a variety of factors. To find out companies by several percentage points, on average, and even by how your company might benefit, call her at 978-353-7600, ext. 228. over 50 percent for certain small firms. Massachusetts has been mandating health insurance coverage for all citizens since the Chamber members visited “The Hill’ in Romney administration, and a number of small Washington, D.C. on April 8 & 9 group rating factors were allowed to be used in setting rates for individual customers. These factors include criteria such as age, gender, type of business and location, etc. When federal rules under Obamacare lim- ited those factors to just four, group rates, in general, went up. Chambers, along with small business advocates and representatives worked with state and federal elected officials to waive the new limit on factors, and the insurance pro- viders in the commonwealth have received an extension through at least 2015 during which they can operate using the previous, larger num- ber, of rating factors. While Obamacare has mandated that all citizens have health insurance, it has changed the makeup of most health insurance products, A group from the Chamber traveled to Washington, DC, to meet the two congressmen New members .............................p.2 who now represent our region since redistricting occurred in 2013. They met with Scholarship winners ....................p.3 Congresswoman Niki Tsongas(Mass.-3) and Congressman James McGovern (Mass.-2). Annual Business Meeting ............p.4 Above, in the office of Mr. McGovern, are Lillian Burkart and LeeAnn Scales HRC .............................................p.5 (seated, from left) and (shown standing, from left) Chamber Chairman Paul New Director Profile.....................p.6 DiGeronimo; James Phelan; Martin Connors; James McGovern, M.C.; Neil Abramson; EWN ............................................p.7 and, Chamber President David McKeehan. INSIDE Membership Drive winners ..........p.B New Members - Please welcome & patronize these businesses 9Round Beacon of Hope Coleman Assembly Fitchburg Senior Ctr. Hannaford Westminster, MA 01473 Community Services and Packaging, Inc. 14 Wallace Avenue Supermarket Ms. Chantal Spinazzola 62 West Street 208 Coleman Street Ext. Fitchburg, MA 01420 - Lancaster St. (508) 873-6180 Leominster, MA 01453 Gardner, MA 01440 Ms. Joan Goodwin 118 Lancaster Street HEALTH & FITNESS Ms. Victoria Briggs Ms. Tracy Grant (978) 345-9598 Leominster, MA 01453 (978) 840-2727 (978) 632-3807 Mr. Joe Goody Age in Place HUMAN SERVICE PACKAGE GAAMHA, Inc. (978) 537-1327 of New England ORGANIZATIONS MACHINERY MFRS. 208 Coleman Street Ext GROCERS - RETAIL Leominster, MA 01453 Gardner, MA 01440 Ms. Christina Cutting Bin There Dump That Creative Print Products Ms. Tracy Grant Hannaford (978) 502-6446 Lunenburg, MA 01462 243 Whitney Street (978) 632-0934 Supermarket HOME Ms. Julie Paradise Leominster, MA 01453 SOCIAL & HUMAN - Twin City IMPROVEMENT / (978) 582-1176 Mr. David J. Aronson SERVICES 927 Merriam Avenue, MODIFICATIONS RUBBISH REMOVAL (978) 534-2030 Twin City Plaza & RECYCLING PRINTING SUPPLIES Global Garage Leominster, MA 01453 Ascension Appraisal Flooring & Design Mr. Dave DeJohn Leominster, MA 01453 BisouSweet CWJ Designs 10 Technology Dr., #40 (978) 534-9323 Ms. Jean Rogers Confections Ashburnham, MA Hudson, MA 01749 GROCERS - RETAIL (978) 534-2460 2 Shaker Road, #E-104 01430 Mr. Chris Lineberry REAL ESTATE Shirley, MA 01464 Cynda Warren Joyce (978) 634-2093 HW Staffing Solutions - APPRAISERS Ms. Karen Collins (978) 827-4874 FLOOR COVERING/ 98 Adams St., #103 (978) 938-4911 GRAPHIC DESIGNERS INSTALLATION Leominster, MA 01453 B. Hague Restoration BAKERS Ms. Diane LaBonte Fitchburg, MA 01420 - WHOLESALE Expert Staffing Great Wolf Lodge (978) 751-8725 Mr. Bret Hague 557 Lancaster Street, 150 Great Wolf Drive EMPLOYMENT (978) 423-9869 Carol Recchion, MDiv. Suite 102 Fitchburg, MA 01420 AGENCIES RETOUCHING W. Boylston, MA 01583 Leominster, MA 01453 Mr. Paul Cunningham & RESTORATION Ms. Carol M. Recchion, Ms. Vera Ilievski (978) 343-9653 Continued on Page A MDiv., CH (978) 798-1610 HOTELS & MOTELS (774) 258-1468 EMPLOYMENT HYPNOTHERAPY AGENCIES Holiday Office Space for Lease Carol Recchion, MDiv, CH Blue Laws Counselor and Clinical Hypnotherapist Twin City Shopping Center, Leominster Independence Day is Friday, July 4 Plenty of parking, convenient highway access. Interior lobbies remodeled in 2013, new HVAC units, “Over 24 years helping • Federal, state and community conference room, and new handicapped people, just like you, municipal offices, the accessible restrooms. Convenient to all amenities the Chamber office, schools center has to offer, such as shopping, restaurants and create more happiness & most banks are newly expanded gym. and success.” closed. • Retail, grocery stores and Starting at $500.00 per month package stores as well 15% discount as manufacturers and For chamber members and their families. other non-retailers--if open--may be restricted to voluntary employment I offer businesses Employee Discount or overtime pay. For and Group Hypnosis Programs, specific exceptions contact me for more information. concerning mandatory/ voluntary hours or extra, holiday compensation, 774-258-1468 or for more information, see: 978-840-0008 www.mass.gov/dos/ or Email [email protected] bluelaw/index.htm page 2 June/July/Aug. Chamber Foundation announces scholarship winners ne very popular program organized by the North Central has been awarded the Salny Family Scholarship for $2,000; Nikita Massachusetts Chamber Foundation is its annual schol- Gilbert of Fitchburg, a senior at North Central Charter Essential Oarship awards that go to outstanding, college-bound School, received the Elizabeth & Anthony DiGeronimo Family students in the Chamber’s service area. Scholarship of $2,000. This year, a total of $44,000 was presented in 22 individual Tara Hebert of Fitchburg and a student at St. Bernard’s Central scholarships during the Good Morning Breakfast at the Double- Catholic High School, was awarded a M. Ruth Lee Scholarship tree by Hilton, Leominster, on May 9. Chamber members had for $2,000; Fitchburg resident Russell Holbert, a senior at Monty the opportunity to meet the scholarship winners along with each Tech, was a recipient of a North Central Mass. Chamber Golf scholarship provider. HealthAlliance sponsored the breakfast Tournament Scholarship for $2,000. event, where the following students were recognized: Ryan Kennedy of Harvard, a student at The Bromfield School, has won a North Central Mass. Chamber Foundation Scholarship for $2,000; Pepperell resident Katherine Koulopoulos of North Middlesex Regional High School was awarded a North Central Mass. Chamber Golf Tournament Scholarship of $2,000. Fitchburg resident Rachael Lanni, a senior at Fitchburg High School, was presented the Edward C.J. Healey Scholarship for $2,000; Leominster resi- dent Catherine Mahan, a senior at Leominster High School received the Barbara Silva Scholarship for $2,000. Lunenburg resident Amelia McDonald, from Lunenburg High School was awarded a Elizabeth & Anthony DiGeronimo Family Scholarship of $2,000. Bryce McLaughlin of Groton, a student at Groton- Dunstable Regional High School, received a North Central Mass. Chamber Foundation Scholarship for $2,000. Julia Rembetsy-Brown of Westminser, a senior at Oakmont Regional High School, has won Photo courtesy of Sentinel & Enterprisethe Roderick W. & Donna M. Lewin Scholarship for $2,000. Harvard resident Katya Schwiegershausen from Groton resident Celina Antonellis, from Groton-Dunstable Re- The Bromfield School, received the Benjamin Asher Scholarship gional High School, received