MANDATORY COVERAGE GETS BOOST

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, March 9, 1993                   TAG: 9303090184
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Los Angeles Times
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                LENGTH: Short
MANDATORY COVERAGE GETS BOOST
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, in a major policy shift, said Monday that all businesses should be required to provide health insurance for their workers.
The giant trade group, which represents 215,000 companies of all size throughout the United States, had until recently been a determined opponent of proposals for mandatory coverage, but is now convinced that universal coverage is an essential component of health-care reform.
"It's a big change" for the Chamber, said Robert Patricelli, chairman of the organization's benefits committee, who met Monday at the White House with Clinton health-care adviser Ira Magaziner. "Employers have to step up to their responsibility."

by Archana Subramaniam by CNB