(Dallas, Texas, February 10, 2005) – ppoNEXT announced today, plans to implement software to support the Quality Assurance program administered by the Credentialing Department at the Dallas Operations Center.

ppoNEXT will roll out a new software application that will support the overall quality and stability of its re-credentialing process. The application, Visual Cactus, a product of CACTUS Software, will support the re-credentialing process within the organization by identifying unique documents such as licenses, degrees, and specialties. In addition the application stores, retrieves, and has the capability to maintain images of several documents pertaining to quality assurance and the credentialing/re-credentialing process.

Lynn Littleton, VP of Network Management for ppoNEXT commented, "Visual Cactus will streamline our credentialing process by providing quick access to documents and critical information. This software will increase our ability to serve our members, clients, and providers as well as move us closer to our goal of achieving NCQA accreditation."

Implementation of Visual Cactus is currently underway.

About CACTUS Software:
Computer Technology Corporation, dba CACTUS Software, is based in Overland Park, Kansas, a suburb of Kansas City, Missouri. CACTUS is an acronym that stands for Computer Assisted Credentialing Tracking Update System.

CACTUS Software's client list consists of over 1,000 client locations, which consist of many of the leading health care providers in the country. Both small community networks and large integrated health systems find inherent flexibility in CACTUS systems.

CACTUS/Medical Staff clients range from small community hospitals to very large teaching hospitals with staffs ranging from 50 to over 20,000 members and allied health professionals.

CACTUS/Managed Care clients have upwards of 300,000 providers, and include HMO's, PPO's, IPA's, Insurance Companies, Networks, and Physician Groups of all sizes.

About ppoNEXT:
ppoNEXT is a leading provider of healthcare management and network services. With its focus on providing consumers with the utmost in quality healthcare, ppoNEXT selects only providers and facilities of uncompromising quality and excellence. Based in Long Beach, California, ppoNEXT offers clients access to over 350,000 physicians, over 3,700 hospitals, and thousands of leading ancillary care providers in key markets such as the Midwest, Texas, California, and Florida. ppoNEXT serves self-funded employers, third party administrators, insurance carriers, HMOs, and various managed care firms. ppoNEXT also offers disease management, as well as utilization review and care management services through its subsidiary, Health Care Evaluation.

For more information about ppoNEXT, please contact:

Etta Jones
Corporate Marketing
214.267.3394