23rd annual AHA Heart Ball around the corner

The 23rd American Heart Association Heart Ball will take place from 5:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Feb. 4 at the Broadmoor International Center. The event includes a gourmet dinner, silent and live auctions, and dancing to local band Phat Daddy and the Phat Horn Doctors.

The event sponsor is Spectranetics Corp.

“Spectranetics is proud to be the presenting sponsor of the American Heart Association’s annual Heart Ball because we believe in their mission,” said John G. Schulte, president and CEO. “Nearly one million Americans of all ages die every year from heart disease, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases. Knowing our company’s excimer laser technology is part of the solution is very rewarding.”

The AHA is selling raffle tickets for a $40,000 luxury vehicle shopping spree at any Red Noland dealership. The $40,000 can be used to purchase a pre-owned or new vehicle and any remaining money can be used to pay for another vehicle, pay taxes on the vehicle or be kept as a gift.

Raffle tickets can be purchased through the AHA or a Red Noland dealership. Tickets are $100 and only 1,600 will be sold. Raffle tickets must be purchased prior to the event and the winner does not have to be present to win.

The proceeds from the Heart Ball and raffle support research, education and advocacy efforts for the AHA.

Contact the AHA office at 635-7688 for more information.

Go Red for Women

Feb. 3 is National Wear Red Day, sponsored by Go Red for Women, the American Heart Association’s movement to promote awareness about heart disease to women.

Women are encouraged to wear red on Feb. 3 to show their support for the fight against heart disease.

For more information, visit www.goredforwomen.org, or call the AHA at (888) MY-HEART (694-3278).

DMA opens Springs office

Denver Management Advisors manages corporate, small group and nonprofit health care and employee benefits. The company is licensed in 43 states with clients in 40 states and more than 80,000 participants.

Judy Gilbert, executive vice president of client relations and a partner with Denver Management Advisors, has opened a DMA office in Colorado Springs. Gilbert handles DMA’s group products, work-site products, e-business and product innovation. She has more than 20 years of experience in the health care industry.

Elizabeth Youngquist, former director of marketing for Experience Colorado, joined DMA as vice president of product development.

ANGEL Network honored

The Penrose Cancer Center’s ANGEL (African-American women Nurturing and Giving Each other Life) Network’s abstract “Collaboration for a Cure” has been chosen as an oral presentation for the Susan G. Komen Foundation’s ninth mission conference, “Many Faces, One Voice.”

The ANGEL Network provides information and screens black women for breast cancer.

The conference will be held in June in Washington, D.C.

Rehabilitation expansion

Penrose-St. Francis Health Services sponsored an open house on Jan. 26 to introduce its new outpatient rehabilitation pavilion, increasing the services offered at the Penrose Center for Neurology and Trauma Rehabilitation.

Dr. Glen House, medical director of the center, demonstrated a mobility device, the iBOT 4000 Mobility System, a power wheelchair that allows its operator to maneuver curbs and travel over grass, gravel and anything else considered uneven terrain. The wheelchair, developed by Independence Technology, also allows users to raise the chair to eye level and navigate stairs.

House said Penrose-St. Francis would like to be an evaluation and test-drive site for the wheelchair.

“We want to offer a way for people with disabilities in southern Colorado to break down barriers to accessibility, and provide our patients with every option for overcoming obstacles to their independence,” he said.

Out of control

From the Colorado Division of Insurance: the latest small-group insurance premium costs. The following rates include Kaiser as the only constant for the three categories listed.

Single – age 36

Aetna Life Insurance: Standard Indemnity – $520/ Standard PPO – $299/Basic Indemnity – $268/Basic PPO – $176

Kaiser Foundation Health Plan: Standard HMO – $407/Basic HMO – $295

United Healthcare Insurance Co.: Standard Indemnity – $515/ Standard PPO – $300/Basic Indemnity – $344/Basic PPO – $238

Family of four – age 54

Kaiser Foundation Health Plan: Standard HMO – $1,668/ Basic HMO – $1,207

American Medical Security Life Insurance: Standard Indemnity – $520/ Standard PPO – $299/Basic Indemnity – $268/Basic PPO – $176

Chesapeake Life: Standard Indemnity – $4,404/ Standard PPO – $3,622/Basic Indemnity – $3,349/Basic PPO – $2,966

Family of four – age 34

Mega Life and Health Insurance Co.: Standard Indemnity – $2,456/ Standard PPO – $1,708/Basic Indemnity – $1,769/Basic PPO – $1,321

Kaiser Foundation Health Plan: Standard HMO – $1,213/ Basic PPO – $878

Pacificare of Colorado: Standard HMO – $1,927/ Basic HMO – $1,650

Marylou Doehrman covers health care for the Colorado Springs Business Journal.