PPO GIVES COMPUTERS TO GROUPS

A dozen not-for-profit organizations in Southeast Missouri -- including eight in Cape Girardeau County -- received computer systems Tuesday.

ETHIX, a St. Louis-based Preferred Provider Organization (PPO), presented computers to representatives of the groups during a reception at Southeast Missouri.

Connie Elmore, director of marketing and sales for ETHIX, worked with Wade Adams and Julie Farrow of MedAmerica HealthNet to locate groups in need of computer systems, which consisted of computer screen, hard-drive and keyboard. Estimated total cost of the used equipment is about $6,000.

Receiving the systems were:

-- March of Dimes, Cape Girardeau.

-- Muscular Dystrophy Association, Cape Girardeau.

-- Safe House for Women, Cape Girardeau.

-- Mid-American Diabetes Association, Cape Girardeau.

-- Mid-America Teen Challenge, Cape Girardeau.

-- Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), Cape Girardeau.

-- APPLE, a free service which assists senior citizens in filing insurance claims and other types of paperwork, Cape Girardeau.

-- Cape Girardeau County Council on Child Abuse, Jackson.

-- Epworth Bootheel Family Learning Center, East Prairie.

-- Women's Crisis Center, Perryville.

-- American Cancer Society office, Sikeston.

-- Stoddard County Association of Retarded Citizens, Dexter.

"Adequate computer technology is often an item unavailable to not-for-profit organizations because of their limited budgets," said Susan Israelson, executive vice president of ETHIX. "The work these organizations do for families and the services they provide make our communities better places to live.

"We're pleased to help provide them with additional technology resources," said Israelson.

ETHIX, a subsidiary of NYLCare Health Plans Inc., the third largest PPO in Eastern Missouri, has expanded its network and marketing efforts to include physicians and hospitals in MedAmerica HealthNet, from Cape Girardeau, Dexter, Sikeston and Perryville areas.

MedAmerica HealthNet, a physician\hospital organization, offers area businesses an option for their health benefit needs.