(Dallas, Texas, September 15, 2006) – ppoNEXT, one of the nation’s premier and largest directly contracted preferred provider organization (PPO) networks, is pleased to announce the appointment of Robert M. Barnett, M.D., as the new Medical Director of NEXTcare Management. A subsidiary of ppoNEXT, NEXTcare Management has offices in Dallas, Texas and Stockton, California providing utilization review, case management, disease management, a nurse helpline, claims negotiations, and independent medical and dental review services.

Dr. Barnett is Board Certified in Internal Medicine, and the previous Chairman of the Department of Medicine at Presbyterian Hospital of Allen, Texas. He also served as the Chief of Staff at Presbyterian Hospital. Dr. Barnett has more than 10 years of experience in the managed care industry, and has been a Physician Reviewer at NEXTcare Management for the last 12 months. As Medical Director for NEXTcare Management, he will oversee URAC accredited care management review activities and assist ppoNEXT in reviewing provider-credentialing issues.

"While serving as the Chairman of the Quality Improvement Committee for NEXTcare Management and ppoNEXT, Dr. Barnett will keep our organization on top of critical issues, and provide leadership and direction to our rapidly growing business. We’re very pleased to have Dr. Barnett join our organization as Medical Director," said Mary Cassol, Vice President of NEXTcare Management.

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 utilization review, case management, disease management, a nurse helpline, 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
214.267.3300