(Dallas, Texas, March 30, 2005) – James M. Pennington, Chief Operating Officer for ppoNEXT, announced the addition of Mary Cassol, RN, as Vice President of Care Management for its subsidiary, Health Care Evaluation. Cassol brings extensive experience in both the Healthcare and Managed Care industries, with a concentration on Care Management.

Cassol's background includes Executive Management positions with Patient Infosystems Care Management, (formerly CBCA Care Management) and SHPS, Inc. (formerly CENTRA Healthcare and Equifax Insurance Services). She has also held key positions with Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Texas, and Concentra Integrated Services. In addition to her responsibilities for daily operations in Medical Management, Independent Medical Review and claims negotiations, Cassol will be responsible for developing new business and achieving revenue growth, as well as implementing programs in response to ppoNEXT's ongoing initiatives to improve overall quality and reduce the cost of care.

ppoNEXT is committed to launching Care Management programs that break ground in the Managed Care industry. The addition of like-minded people to the ppoNEXT team is paramount in this effort. Cassol's experience in both the Healthcare and Managed Care industries will be indispensable to ppoNEXT as it strives to bridge the information gap between Managed Care and Healthcare consumers.

About ppoNEXT:
ppoNEXT is a leading provider of healthcare management and network services. With its abiding commitment to the healthcare consumer, ppoNEXT recognizes the important role transplant management, disease management, and care management play in reducing costs and improving overall outcomes and experience. Based in Long Beach, California, ppoNEXT offers clients access to over 350,000 physicians, 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 bill review firms. Through its subsidiary, Health Care Evaluation, ppoNEXT offers disease management, as well as utilization review and case management services.

For more information about ppoNEXT, please contact:

Etta Jones
Corporate Marketing
214.267.3394

About Health Care Evaluation, Inc.:
Health Care Evaluation, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of ppoNEXT. It provides comprehensive utilization and case management services, medical and dental claims review, claims negotiation and an array of other medical management services.

For more information on Health Care Evaluation please contact:

Mary Cassol
Vice President, Care Management
214-267-3300