The high cost of health insurance to small businesses has emerged as the top concern of small business owners at a conference in Washington, D.C. Among those attenting was Brad Eiffert – co-owner of Boone County Lumber Company in Columbia. He says the problem is not new, but it’s gaining in importance. Small business owners are asking lawmakers to make changes to existing laws to allow smaller companies to pool their employees in an effort to obtain better prices for health insurance.