21.   Unlike a county hospital, a public benefits corporation is allowed by law to enter into joint business ventures and thereby gain leverage in negotiations with insurance providers.

22.   When state lawmakers deregulated the industry, insurance providers engaged in price slashing in an attempt to gain market share.

23.   When the state requested that hospitals report to its insurance providers last year whether they meet Leapfrog standards, Hallmark Health was one of dozens of hospitals that refused.

24.   Patients should have the ability to sue their HMO insurance providers for claims of medical malpractice, a ranking Republican lawmaker said Tuesday.

25.   Officials at the state insurance provider have said the talks would last all night if necessary.

26.   The Labor Ministry says unions must address their concerns to the state insurance provider, known as CNAM.