Business Notebook: Saint Francis, school board officials meet about health plan

Emily Sikes, account services coordinator of Saint Francis Medical Center's marketing department, on Friday said Cape Girardeau Public School District superintendent Dr. James Welker and assistant superintendent of support services Neil Glass met with president and CEO of Saint Francis Steven Bjelich as well as Saint Francis vice president of finance Tony Balsano regarding the hospital's announcement of a program that will reimburse school district employees up to $500 per family if they choose to include the hospital in their 2014 insurance network.

The Cape Girardeau Public School District Board earlier this month approved a "narrow network," or Blue Preferred network, health-insurance plan offered by Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield, saving the district $317,000 for 2014. Saint Francis, Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis and facilities owned and operated by the two hospitals are not included in the Blue Preferred network. Southeast Hospital and other St. Louis hospitals are in the network.

If a district employee wishes to include Saint Francis and Barnes facilities in his or her health-insurance network, an additional payment of $41.30 per month is required.

Sikes said a letter about the hospital's reimbursement plan was emailed by Welker to school district faculty and staff.

ACA educational seminar set for Dec. 5

The Cape Girardeau Public Library will host an educational seminar regarding the Affordable Care Act on Dec. 5.

The event partners for the seminar are the Southeast Missouri State University APS Navigators, the East Missouri Action Agency and the Cape Girardeau Public Library.

The seminar will be from 6 to 7 p.m. at the library, 711 N. Clark St. It is free and open to the public.

Business roundup

* An acre of land that includes four properties on William Street between Sprigg and Ellis streets has been sold to Family Dollar store and the deal is closed, according to Thomas M. Meyer of Exit Realty. All the properties now are commercially zoned and will be demolished to street level for the building of Family Dollar.

* Huck's gas station and convenience store, 353 S. Kingshighway St. in Cape Girardeau, is expanding from eight to 12 gas pumps and remodeling the front of its building, according to manager Ruth Parker. Construction should be finished in December, and the store will remain open 24 hours a day during construction.

* Erlbacher Gear and Machine Works is constructing a fabrication shop adjacent to its property at 425 Good Hope St. in Cape Girardeau, said Pee Wee Erlbacher. The shop will house a seven-and-a-half ton overhead crane. Erlbacher said he hopes to have the shop complete by the first of the year.

* Regional Counseling and EAP Services has relocated its business to 5303 Old Cape Road in Jackson. The counseling center offers personal, family and Substance Abuse Professional Services counseling and is DOT qualified.

* Katie Blattel Photography and Design, 221 Independence St., Suite B in Cape Girardeau, will celebrate its opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 11:30 a.m. today.

* The Southeast Missouri State University Department of Athletics announced the opening of GoSoutheastGear.com. The online store sells officially licensed Southeast merchandise.

ashedd@semissourian.com

388-3632

Pertinent addresses:

211 St. Francis Dr., Cape Girardeau, MO

711 N. Clark St. Cape Girardeau, MO

Sprigg and Ellis streets, Cape Girardeau, MO

353 S. Kingshighway St., Cape Girardeau, MO

425 Good Hope St., Cape Girardeau, MO

5303 Old Cape Road, Jackson, MO

221 Independence St., Suite B, Cape Girardeau, MO

2136 William St., Suite 140, Cape Girardeau, MO