(Dallas, Texas, March 17, 2005) – Mark Heinemeyer, Chief Marketing & Sales Officer for ppoNEXT, announced today that ppoNEXT has completed an extensive data clean up and verification process which ensures that its clients have access to the most accurate information available.

In recent years, ppoNEXT has benefited from much business success. Strategic acquisitions and innovative business practices have enabled ppoNEXT to provide its clients access to a comprehensive network of over 500,000 providers in a variety of specialties. As a result of that aggressive growth, ppoNEXT obtained data from several different sources. ppoNEXT recognized the need to integrate this data into a database that shared identical standards and rules. The Data Quality Project was created not only to successfully integrate existing databases, but also to establish a regulated procedure by which all data, old and new, would be constructed, loaded, edited, and maintained. Now that this clean up and integration phase has been completed, ppoNEXT has strict processes in place to maintain data quality.

Jay Taylor, Chief Information Officer for ppoNEXT is responding to the challenge of maintaining current information in the dynamic Provider Network environment. "We are continually maintaining and adding to our Network. Combining QA of the input transactions with scheduled monthly and quarterly reporting, we have implemented a very tight quality process for our data." ppoNEXT now provides the most trustworthy provider information in the managed care industry. Knowing that dependable data is the cornerstone of any good business, ppoNEXT is single-minded in its effort to consistently maintain the most reliable data for its clients, providers, and members.

Since its inception in 1999, ppoNEXT has been committed to maintaining and providing accurate data. The creation of the Data Quality Project is proof of its commitment to always provide its clients with access to excellence in every aspect.

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