HEALTH CARE

Coalition Obtains Rate Cuts: The Pacific Business Group, one of the nation’s largest health insurance purchasing coalitions, has negotiated premium rollbacks averaging 4.3% with 15 major California health maintenance organizations. The private purchasing group said 13 of 15 HMOs agreed to reduce their rates. The new rates take effect in January and will affect about 330,00 employees and their families and about $400 million in annual medical premiums. The San Francisco-based group negotiates health care insurance on behalf of 28 large California employers, including Bank of America, Chevron Corp., First Interstate Bancorp, McKesson Corp. and Safeway Inc.