(Dallas, Texas, January 23, 2007) – ppoNEXT, one of the nation’s premier and fastest-growing independent preferred provider organization (PPO) networks, announced the continued enhancement of its network by adding a national agreement with Maxim Healthcare Services.

Maxim provides high-quality, affordable healthcare service for homecare, supplemental staffing, and wellness services that are designed to ensure continuity of care in the comforting surroundings of home. Maxim specializes in providing around-the-clock care for adults, geriatric, infants and pediatric patients with a variety of ailments and strives to preserve quality of life, while promoting independence and individual success. Maxim’s commitment to customer service and quality care partners well with ppoNEXT’s commitment to excellence.

Maxim has approximately 200 office locations providing nationwide accessibility, 24-hour availability, quality assurance programs, state-of-the-art staffing and clinical software. Maxim offers the following services: home health hourly nursing with specialized pediatric services for the treatment of respiratory disorders, neurological disorders, complex intravenous therapy, cardiovascular disease, gastrointestinal disorders, orthopedic disorders and renal disorders; behavioral health services designed to aid children with ADHD, conduct disorders and other behavioral heath concerns; respite services; companion services and intermittent nursing at select locations. All offices are corporately owned, which promotes operational consistency. “We look forward to a long and mutually prosperous relationship,” said Rachael Kehoe, National Accounts Executive – West Region, for Maxim Healthcare Services, Inc.

“We are pleased to be able to offer our clients access to the quality health care services provided at these Maxim locations,” said Lynn Littleton, ppoNEXT Vice President, Network Development. “This new national agreement is a very positive development and demonstrates our commitment to continuing to meet the health care needs of our membership.”

About ppoNEXT:
ppoNEXT is a leading provider of nationwide 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 Dallas, Texas, ppoNEXT offers clients access to over 450,000 physicians, over 3,700 hospitals, and thousands of leading ancillary care providers in key markets such as the Midwest, Texas, California, Florida, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. ppoNEXT serves self-funded employers, third party administrators, insurance carriers, HMOs, and various managed care firms. ppoNEXT also offers disease management, utilization review, case management, and independent medical review and claims negotiation services through its subsidiary, NEXTcare Management.

ppoNEXT is strongly committed to traditional and non-traditional PPO products and services. We are consistently working with providers to assure the public and private sectors have access to developing markets. This can be seen in the recent expansion of our secondary and consumer card networks.

For more information about ppoNEXT, please contact:
Gene Gerard
Corporate Marketing
214.267.3412