(Dallas, Texas, November 30, 2005) – James M. Pennington, Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer for ppoNEXT, announced the addition of a new product, NEXT Elite, an Exclusive Provider Organization (EPO), to its existing suite of products. The Elite product provides access to an exclusive group of high-quality providers who, in turn offer deeper discounts for their services.

In keeping with its commitment to outstanding quality, ppoNEXT has selected physicians and facilities well known for maintaining the highest levels of quality, to join this exclusive product offering. Employers who choose the NEXT Elite network will enjoy access to best-in-class providers as well as greater savings. "We expect this product offering to be very popular," commented Pennington. "It combines real cost containment with the flexibility and freedom of choice associated with a traditional PPO."

Initially, the NEXT Elite network will be offered to prospects and clients with employees and dependents located in the Houston, Texas MSA. Plans to expand the NEXT Elite network to other geographical areas are under consideration.

About ppoNEXT:
Founded in 1999, ppoNEXT is a leading provider of health network services aimed at assisting companies, and therefore, consumers with managing the spiraling cost of healthcare by actively participating in Consumer Driven Healthcare initiatives. As these initiatives hold great promise as mechanisms to aid employers in gaining control over the cost of employee health benefits, ppoNEXT is dedicated to providing services that are like-minded, realizing that companies who meet the challenges faced by opening the healthcare marketplace will be at the forefront of delivering on that promise. Based in Long Beach, California, ppoNEXT offers clients access to over 450,000 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, NEXT care management, ppoNEXT offers disease management, as well as utilization review and care management services.

For more information about ppoNEXT, please contact:

Etta Jones
Corporate Marketing
214-267-3394