DENVER â This month, Kaiser Permanente Colorado launches a PPO (preferred provider organization) suite of products as part of its expanded product portfolio for large businesses. Denver/Boulder employers with more than 50 employees can now choose coverage from three suites of products, HMO, PPO and POS insurance plans.
Xiphoid Process Pain â Anatomy, Causes and Treatment. The xiphoid process, also called xiphosternum and metasternum, lies at the level of 10th thoracic vertebrae. It is also the lowest and the smallest part of the sternum, marks the lower limit of the thoracic cavity and the lower border of the heart. At birth, the xiphoid process is cartilaginous, but it slowly ossifies (turns to bone) from the central core after middle age (usually around 40 years of age).
The xiphoid process area is located at the lower part of the sternum. Pain in this area is known as xiphoid process pain, xiphoid syndrome, xiphoidynia, or xiphoidalgia. Xiphoidalgia is characterized primarily by tenderness and dull pain in the xiphoid process area. Xiphoid process pain is a subject of controversy.