CONCORD — Gov. John Lynch today applauded the final passage of the New Hampshire HealthFirst initiative, which is aimed at helping small businesses better afford health insurance for their workers.

The Senate acted today to agree with changes made in the House, sending the bill the Governor for his signature.

Gov. Lynch proposed New Hampshire HealthFirst in his State of the State Address.

“We are taking an important step forward in helping small businesses better afford health insurance for their workers,” Gov. Lynch said. “I want thank the members of the Senate and the House for recognizing the importance of keeping health insurance in reach of employers by passing this legislation with strong bipartisan support.”

New Hampshire HealthFirst was developed in conjunction with the state Insurance Department, lawmakers and other stakeholders. It will provide comparable coverage to existing health insurance plans, and reduce premiums by addressing the underlying cost drivers of health care increases through better prevention, better care management and more efficient use of health care services.

“This is a plan focused on the patient and on keeping the patient healthy. That translates into better, more cost-effective care, which is exactly what we should be doing in an effort to stabilize health care costs,” Gov. Lynch said. “HealthFirst’s aim is to make it possible for workers and their employers to access more affordable, comprehensive coverage.”

New Hampshire HealthFirst received strong partisan support, passing by a vote of 259-93 in the House, and 21-3 in the Senate.

Senate Bill 540 was sponsored by Sens. Kathy Sgambati, Joe Foster, Maggie Hassan, Iris Estabrook, Deb Reynolds, Bob Odell, John Gallus, Jack Barnes, Jackie Cilley, Martha Fuller Clark, Molly Kelly, Lou D'Allesandro, David Gottesman, Sylvia Larsen and Harold Janeway; Reps. Martha McLeod, Sharon Nordgren, Peter Bergin, James Pilliod and Ed Butler.