(Dallas, Texas, July 14, 2006) - 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 HOMELINK, located in Waterloo, Iowa.

HOMELINK, which was founded in 1993, has more than 6,000 site locations and is one of the nation's largest ancillary services groups. It is one of the most respected providers of durable medical equipment, home health nursing, infusion therapy, orthotics and prosthetics services, specialty rehabilitation equipment, and transportation services. HOMELINK assures preferred rates and unequaled access to a quality network of ancillary services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. In addition, HOMELINK provides access in all 50 states. Clients of ppoNEXT will have access to a dedicated referral telephone number with Homelink.

"HOMELINK welcomes the opportunity to contract with ppoNEXT and looks forward to a long and continuing relationship," said Dave Kazynski, President of HOMELINK. "We are very pleased to add a national agreement with HOMELINK to the ppoNEXT Network," said Lynn Littleton, Vice President, Network Development. "HOMELINK's dedication to service and quality partners well with ppoNEXT's commitment to excellence."

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, 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:
Aaron Means
Corporate Marketing
214.267.3358