Exhibit 10.5(9)
                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

     This Agreement is made this day of November 16, 2000, by and between SIERRA
HEALTH SERVICES,  Inc., a Nevada Corporation,  of Las Vegas,
Nevada  (hereinafter   referred  to  as  "Employer"),   and  Paul  H.  Palmer  ,
(hereinafter referred to as "Employee").

                                   WITNESSETH

                  WHEREAS,  Employer is a publicly traded company engaged in the
business of providing managed health care services through subsidiary companies;

                  WHEREAS,  Employee has expertise and experience in providing
managed health care services; and,

                  WHEREAS, Employee has made and is expected to continue to make
a major  contribution  to the  profitability,  growth and financial  strength of
Employer;

                  NOW,  THEREFORE,  in  consideration of the mutual promises and
agreements hereinafter set forth, Employer and Employee agree as follows:

                                                      ARTICLE I
                                            EMPLOYMENT/DUTIES AND POWERS

         1.  Employer  hereby  employs,  engages  and  hires  Employee  as  Vice
President,  Treasurer and Chief Financial  Officer , and Employee hereby accepts
and agrees to such hiring,  engagement  and  employment,  subject to the general
supervision and direction of Employer.

      2.  Employee  shall  perform  such  duties as are  assigned  by the CEO of
Employer or his/her designee,  and shall at all times faithfully and to the best
of his/her  ability  perform  all the duties that may be required of Employee to
the  reasonable  satisfaction  of Employer.  Employee  shall exercise only those
powers for signing  contracts and conveyances in the ordinary course of business
as are  expressly  authorized  by  Employer's  CEO or the  appropriate  Board of
Directors.  Employee  further  agrees  to  participate  in  and  assist  in  the
development of quality improvement programs offered by Employer.

                                                     ARTICLE II
                                       TERM OF EMPLOYMENT - TERM OF AGREEMENT

      1.  The  term of  employment  governed  by  this  Agreement  shall  be for
approximately  a 3 year  period  starting  November  16,  2000  and  terminating
December 31, 2003 subject, however, to prior termination as hereinafter provided
in Article VII. Unless earlier terminated by the mutual agreement of the parties
hereto,  this Agreement shall terminate at December 31, 2003 or, if Employee has
become  entitled  to  any  benefit  under  Article  VII  due to  termination  of
employment  on or before  December  31,  2003,  at such date as Employer  has no
further obligations to Employee under Article VII; provided,  however,  that the
provisions  of Article V and  Article VI (and this  clause of Article  II) shall
survive any termination of this Agreement.


<PAGE>


                                                     ARTICLE III
                                               COMPENSATION AND REVIEW

      1. Employer  shall pay Employee and Employee shall accept from Employer as
payment for  Employee's  services  hereunder,  compensation  in the form of base
salary in the amount as set forth in Attachment A of this Agreement,  payable at
such  times as are deemed  appropriate  by  Employer,  but not less than twice a
month, and other compensation payable under this Agreement.

      2.       (a)    Employer shall reimburse  Employee for all necessary and
reasonable  business expenses incurred by Employee while
performing services pursuant to Employer's direction.

               (b)    Employee agrees to maintain adequate records of expenses,
in such detail as Employer may reasonably request.

 3.       (a)    Employee shall also be eligible for those Employee fringe
benefit  programs,  bonus plans, and stock option plans
as are made available to other employees of Employer at the same organizational
level, and as approved by the Board of Directors.

         (b)    Except for Employee's vested benefits under the Supplemental
Executive  Retirement Plan ("SERP"),  Employer may,
at any time and at its sole discretion, amend any fringe benefit programs, bonus
programs,  or stock option programs without prior notice to Employee even though
such an  amendment  may  decrease  the  future  benefits  available  under  said
programs.  Notwithstanding  this subparagraph,  Employer shall have the right to
retroactively  amend Employer's  policies  concerning vacation and paid time off
accruals.

      4.  Employee's  performance  shall be reviewed at least  annually based on
established job duties,  goals and objectives and other reasonable  standards as
deemed necessary and appropriate by Employer.

                                                     ARTICLE IV
                                                  OTHER EMPLOYMENT

               Employee shall devote all of his time, attention,  knowledge, and
skills  solely to the  business  and  interest  of  Employer,  unless  otherwise
authorized  by Employer,  and  Employer  shall be entitled to all of the income,
benefits,  or profits arising from or incident to all work,  work  associations,
services,  or advice of  Employee,  unless  otherwise  authorized  in writing by
Employer.  Employee  shall not,  during the term hereof,  be  interested  in any
manner,  as  partner,  officer,  director,  advisor,  employee  or in any  other
capacity  in any other  business  similar to  Employer's  business or any allied
trade,  or obtain any interest  adverse to  Employer;  provided,  however,  that
Employee may provide advice and  consultation to other entities with the written
approval of  Employer,  and  further  provided,  however,  that  nothing  herein
contained  shall be deemed to prevent or limit the right of  Employee  to invest
any of his/her  surplus  funds in the capital  stock or other  securities of any
corporation whose stock or securities are publicly owned or are regularly traded
on any public exchange, nor shall anything herein contained be deemed to prevent
Employee from  investing or limit  Employee's  right to invest  his/her  surplus
funds in real estate.  Employee  shall  complete a Conflict of Interest  form by
February  15 of each  calendar  year and submit it to Employer  for review.  All
conflicts of interest or any potential  conflicts of interest which arise during
the year must be  immediately  reported to  Employer.  All  conflict of interest
concerns  must be  resolved  to the  reasonable  satisfaction  of  Employer as a
condition of continuation of employment.

                                                      ARTICLE V
                                                  BUSINESS SECRETS

      1.  Employee  shall not at any time or in any manner,  either  directly or
indirectly, divulge, disclose or communicate to any person, firm or corporation,
in any manner whatsoever, any proprietary or confidential information concerning
any  matter   affecting   or  relating  to  the  business  of  Employer  or  its
subsidiaries, including without limiting the generality of the foregoing, any of
their customers, the prices they obtain from providers or have obtained from the
sale of,  or at  which  they  sell or have  sold,  its  services,  or any  other
information  concerning  the  business of Employer  or its  subsidiaries,  their
manner of operation,  or their plans, if such a disclosure  would be detrimental
to the business interests of Employer or its subsidiaries.

      2. If Employee's employment hereunder is terminated by either party at any
time  hereafter,  then  Employee  agrees to turn over to  Employer  all  papers,
documents, working papers, correspondence, memos and any and all other documents
in  Employee's  possession  relating to or  concerning  any matter  affecting or
relating to the business of Employer or its subsidiaries.


<PAGE>


                                                     ARTICLE VI
                                              NONCOMPETITION AGREEMENT

      1. Employee acknowledges that in Employee's employment hereunder, Employee
will have  continual  contacts with the groups,  members,  and providers who are
covered by or  associated  with the  managed  health  care  programs  offered by
Employer or its  subsidiaries  in Nevada and other states.  In all of Employee's
activities, Employee, through the nature of Employee's work, will have access to
and will acquire confidential information related to the business and operations
of Employer and its subsidiaries,  including, without limiting the generality of
the foregoing,  member and group lists, and confidential information relating to
processes,  plans,  methods of doing  business  and  special  needs of  doctors,
hospitals,  members,  groups,  pharmacies,  or other health care  providers  who
contract with Employer or its subsidiaries.  Employee acknowledges that all such
information  is  the  property  of  Employer  or  its  subsidiaries  solely  and
constitutes  confidential  information  of such  parties;  that  the  disclosure
thereof  would  cause  substantial  loss to the  goodwill  of  Employer  and its
subsidiaries;  that disclosure thereof to Employee is being made only because of
the position of trust and  confidence  which Employee will occupy and because of
Employee's agreement to the restrictions herein contained; that his knowledge of
these matters would enable him, on  termination  of this  Agreement,  to compete
with Employer or its  subsidiaries  in a manner likely to cause Employer and its
subsidiaries  irreparable harm, and disclosure of such matters would,  likewise,
cause such harm; and that the  restrictions  imposed upon Employee  herein would
not prohibit Employee in earning a living.

      2. It is  understood  and agreed by Employee and Employer that the essence
of this Employment Agreement is the mutual covenants of the parties herein made,
that the present and future  members and groups of Employer or its  subsidiaries
will remain Employer's or its  subsidiaries'  members and groups during the term
of this Agreement and following its termination for any reason. In consideration
for the  employment and continued  employment of Employee by Employer,  and also
for the amount received by Employee as compensation, Employee hereby irrevocably
warrants, covenants, and agrees as follows:

               (a) during the term of  Employee's  employment  and after leaving
the  employment of Employer for any reason,  whether  involuntary  or voluntary,
Employee  will not take any action  whatsoever  which may or might  disturb  any
existing business relationship of Employer or its subsidiaries with any doctors,
groups, members, hospitals,  pharmacies or other health care providers in Nevada
who contract with Employer or its subsidiaries;

               (b) for a period of one (1) year after leaving the  employment of
Employer,  Employee  will not  solicit  business  from the  members or groups of
Employer or its  subsidiaries  in Nevada,  or in any manner disrupt any business
relationship  Employer or its subsidiaries  has with any contracted  health care
provider  in  Nevada  with whom  Employee  came in  contact  as an  employee  of
Employer.

               (c) for a period of one (1) year after leaving the  employment of
Employer, Employee will not, either directly or indirectly, work for any present
or future  competitors  of Employer  operating in the state of Nevada who in any
manner offer any managed health care programs, insurance coverage, or administer
health care claims for employers.  Such competitors  shall include,  but are not
limited to, HMOs, PPOs, insurance companies,  utilization  management companies,
or third party administrators.

      3. The one (1) year period specified in this Article will be tolled during
any period of breach of any of the terms of Article VI by Employee.

      4.  Employee  agrees  that in the  event of a  breach  of any term of this
Agreement,  and more particularly,  in the event of a breach of any of the terms
and  provisions of Article VI,  Employer shall be entitled to secure an order in
any suit brought for that purpose to enjoin  Employee from  violating any of the
provisions of the  Agreement  and that,  pending the hearing and the decision on
the  application  for such  order,  Employer  shall be  entitled  to a temporary
restraining  order without  prejudice to any other remedy available to Employer,
all at the expense of Employee should Employer prevail in such action.  Employee
understands  that  the  covenants  of  this  Article  are  the  essence  of this
Employment  Agreement,  and without which no Employment  Agreement with Employee
would be entered into by Employer.

      5. The  provisions  of Article VI shall in no event be  construed to be an
exclusive  remedy and such remedy shall be held and  construed to be  cumulative
and not exclusive of any rights or remedies, whether in law or equity, otherwise
available  under the  terms of this  Agreement  or under the laws of the  United
States or the state of Nevada.

      6. The covenants and agreements  made by Employee in this Article VI shall
be construed as an agreement independent of any other provision in the Agreement
and the existence of any claim or cause of action by Employee against  Employer,
whether  predicated  on this  Agreement  or  otherwise,  shall not  constitute a
defense to the enforcement by Employer,  by injunctive  relief or otherwise,  of
the  provisions of Article VI. The  invalidity of all or any part of any section
or paragraph of this Article VI shall not render  invalid the  remainder of this
Article or any section hereof.

      7. No failure or failures on the part of Employer to enforce any violation
by Employee  of this  Noncompetition  agreement,  shall  constitute  a waiver of
Employer's rights thereafter to enforce all of the terms, covenants,  provisions
and agreements herein contained.

                                                     ARTICLE VII
                                              TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT

      1.  Termination of employment by either  Employer or Employee shall follow
established Sierra Health Services Policies and Procedures including appropriate
notice, except as otherwise specifically set forth in this Article.

      2. Employee may terminate  employment hereunder with sixty (60) days prior
written notice. If Employee shall voluntarily  terminate employment all eligible
separation  compensation  and benefits as are routinely  made available to other
employees of Employer at the same  organizational  level,  shall be paid or made
available to Employee.

3. If Employer shall terminate  Employee's  employment  hereunder without cause,
except as otherwise set forth in  Paragraphs 6 and 7 of this  Article,  Employee
shall  be  entitled  to  nine  (9)  months  salary  and  all  other   separation
compensation  and benefits as are routinely made available to other employees of
Employer at the same organizational level.

4. In the event Employee's employment
hereunder  terminates  for any  reason  other  than for  cause,  as set forth in
Paragraph 6 of this  Article,  Employee and his/her  family shall be eligible to
remain covered under Employer's health care coverage program, at no expense, for
a period  of time  equal to  Employee's  length  of  service  or until  Medicare
eligible, whichever occurs first, following termination of such employment.

               5.  Notwithstanding  any other provision in this Agreement to the
contrary,  Employee  hereby  agrees  that  any  separation  compensation  due to
Employee,  other than accrued vacation, shall be paid out 25% after the first 90
days, 37 1/2% after the first 180 days,  and the remaining 37 1/2% at the end of
365 days,  except in the event of a change in control.  Payment of such  amounts
shall fully release Employer from any and all liability of Employer  relating to
this Agreement or the employment  hereunder.  Any payments or such amounts which
would otherwise be payable after a change in control,  or arising as a result of
a change in control,  shall be made in a lump sum within five (5) business  days
following  the date of the change in  control  and  shall,  except as  otherwise
provided  in any other  benefit  program  or in this  Agreement,  fully  release
Employer  from any and all liability of Employer  relating to this  Agreement or
the employment hereunder.

      6. If Employer  shall  terminate  Employee's  employment due to Employee's
conduct  that is  materially  detrimental  to  Employer's  reputation,  business
relationships,  or for  misappropriation of Employer's funds,  Employee shall be
eligible for four (4) weeks  salary and any other  separation  compensation  and
benefits as are routinely made  available to other  employees of Employer at the
same  organizational  level,  as full and final  payment  under this  Agreement.
Payment of such amounts shall fully release  Employer from any and all liability
of Employer relating to this Agreement or the employment hereunder.

      7. (a) If Employee is unable to perform  Employee's duties  hereunder,  by
reason of illness or incapacity  of any kind,  for a period of more than six (6)
months in excess of accrued sick leave,  Employee's  employment hereunder may be
terminated by Employer at its absolute discretion with one week of prior written
notice.

               (b) If  Employee's  illness or incapacity  shall have ended,  and
Employee  shall have  assumed  Employee's  duties  hereunder,  prior to the date
specified  in the notice of  termination,  Employee  shall be entitled to resume
Employee's employment hereunder as if such notice had not been given.

               8. In the event of a change in control of  Employer,  whereby any
"person"  (as  such  term  is used  in  Sections  3(a)(9)  and  13(d)(3)  of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934) is or becomes the beneficial owner, directly or
indirectly,  of securities of Employer  representing 51% or more of the combined
voting power of the then outstanding  securities of Employer, and such change in
control was not  approved by a majority of the Board of  Directors  of Employer,
Employee,  at his/her  sole  option,  shall be  entitled  to  terminate  his/her
employment  hereunder  and,  upon such  termination,  will be entitled to a cash
amount  equal to (2.0) times  Employee's  current  salary and the target  annual
bonus for which Employee is eligible in the year of  termination,  together with
any other  separation  compensation and benefits as are routinely made available
to other  employees  of Employer at the same  organizational  level.  Employee's
right to  terminate  under this  Paragraph 8 may be exercised at the time of the
change in control or at any time  within two years  after the change in control,
including  upon  receipt of any notice that  Employer  has elected to  terminate
Employee's employment without cause during such two-year period. Payment of such
amounts shall be made in a lump sum within five (5) business days  following the
date such  amounts  become  payable  hereunder  and shall,  except as  otherwise
provided  in any other  benefit  program  or in this  Agreement,  fully  release
Employer  from any and all liability of Employer  relating to this  Agreement or
the employment hereunder.

      9. In the event of a change in control of  Employer,  whereby any "person"
(as  such  term is used in  Sections  3(a)(9)  and  13(d)(3)  of the  Securities
Exchange  Act  of  1934)  is  or  becomes  the  beneficial  owner,  directly  or
indirectly,  of securities of Employer  representing 51% or more of the combined
voting power of the then outstanding  securities of Employer, and such change in
control  is  approved  by a  majority  of the Board of  Directors  of  Employer,
Employee,  at his/her  sole  option,  shall be  entitled  to  terminate  his/her
employment  hereunder  and,  upon such  termination,  will be entitled to a cash
amount  equal to (2.0) times  Employee's  current  salary and the target  annual
bonus for which Employee is eligible in the year of  termination,  together with
any other  separation  compensation and benefits as are routinely made available
to other employees of Employer at the same organizational  level, if, within two
(2) years  after the  effective  date of the  change in  control  any one of the
following occurs: (a) the assignment to Employee of any duties inconsistent with
Employee's   position   (including  status,   offices,   titles,  and  reporting
requirements), authority, duties, or responsibilities or any other action by the
Employer  that results in a material  diminution  in such  position,  authority,
duties, or  responsibilities,  excluding for this purpose an action not taken in
bad faith and that is  remedied  by  Employer  within 10 days  after  receipt of
written notice by Employee;  (b) a reduction in Employee's annual base salary or
target bonus; (c) the relocation of Employer's  principle executive offices to a
location more than 75 miles from the current location of such offices or (d), in
the event such change in control  occurs within the final two years prior to the
calendar date stated as the termination date of the Agreement in Article II, and
if, prior to such stated termination date and prior to termination of Employee's
employment,  Employer  has  not  offered  to  enter  into an  extension  of this
employment   agreement  or  a  new  employment   agreement   providing  benefits
substantially  equal to those under this agreement for a term to extend until at
least  two years  after the date of such  change in  control.  In  addition,  if
Employee's  employment  hereunder is terminated for reasons other than those set
forth in  Paragraph  6 and 7 of this  Article  within  two (2)  years  after the
effective  date of a change in  control  which was  approved  by a  majority  of
Employer's Board of Directors, Employee shall be entitled to a cash amount equal
to (2.0) times  Employee's  current salary and the target annual bonus for which
Employee  is  eligible  in the year of  termination,  together  with  all  other
separation  compensation  and benefits as are routinely  made available to other
employees of Employer at the same organizational  level. Payment of such amounts
shall be made in a lump sum within five (5)  business  days  following  the date
such amounts become payable hereunder,  and shall,  except as otherwise provided
in any other benefit program or in this Agreement,  fully release  Employer from
any and all liability of Employer  relating to this  Agreement or the employment
hereunder.

      10. Anything contained herein to the contrary notwithstanding in the event
that Employer shall discontinue  operation of Employer other than as a result of
a merger, consolidation or acquisition,  then this Agreement shall terminate and
the provisions of Article VI shall  terminate as of the last day of the month in
which Employer  ceases  operation with the same force and effect as if such last
day of the month were originally set as the termination date hereof.

      11. Any amounts  payable  under this  Article VII shall also be payable to
Employee in the event  Employee is  terminated  without  cause during the 90-day
period prior to a Change in Control.

      12.Whether  or  not  Employee  becomes  entitled  to  any  payments  under
Paragraphs  1 through  11 of this  Article  VII,  if any  payments  or  benefits
received,  or to be received,  by Employee  (including the vesting of any option
and other non-cash benefits and property),  whether pursuant to any provision of
this Agreement or any other plan,  arrangement or agreement with Employer or any
affiliated  company,  excluding  the  Gross-Up  Payment  described  herein (such
payments and benefits being the "Total Payments"), will be subject to any excise
tax imposed under section 4999 of the Internal  Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
(such excise tax,  including  penalties and interest thereon,  being the "Excise
Tax"),  Employer  shall pay to Employee  an  additional  amount  (the  "Gross-Up
Payment") such that the net amount retained by Employee, after reduction for any
Excise Tax on the Total  Payments and any federal and Excise Tax on the Gross-Up
Payment,  shall be  equal to the sum of (i) the  Total  Payments  plus  (ii) any
deductions  disallowed for federal income tax purposes  because of the inclusion
of the Gross-Up Payment in Executive's  adjusted gross income  multiplied by the
Executive's  highest  marginal rate of federal income  taxation for the calendar
year in which the Gross-Up Payment is to be made.

                                                    ARTICLE VIII
                                                  EFFECT OF WAIVER

      The waiver by either party of a breach of any provision of this  agreement
shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach thereof.

                                                     ARTICLE IX
                                           ACTUAL ATTORNEY'S FEES EXPENDED

      Employer and Employee  agree that all  attorneys  fees  expended by either
party in any dispute,  arbitration or litigation  concerning this Agreement will
be paid by the losing party in that dispute, arbitration or litigation.


<PAGE>


                                    ARTICLE X

                                                       NOTICE

      Any and all notices referred to herein shall be sufficient if furnished in
writing, sent by registered mail to the representative  parties at the addresses
subscribed below their signatures to this Agreement.

                                   ARTICLE XI

                                                     ASSIGNMENT

      The rights,  benefits and  obligations  of Employee  under this  Agreement
shall be assignable,  and all covenants and agreements  hereunder shall inure to
the  benefit  of and be  enforceable  by or  against  Employer's  successors  or
assigns.

                                                     ARTICLE XII
                                                  ENTIRE AGREEMENT

      This Agreement contains the entire Agreement between the parties,  and the
parties hereby agree that no other oral  representations or agreements have been
entered into in connection with this transaction.


<PAGE>


                                                    ARTICLE XIII

                                                      AMENDMENT

      No amendment or modification of this Agreement shall be deemed  effective,
unless or until, it is executed in writing by the parties hereto.

                                                     ARTICLE XIV

                                                      VALIDITY

      This Agreement, having been executed and delivered in the State of Nevada,
its validity,  interpretation,  performance and enforcement  will be governed by
the laws of that state.

                                                     ARTICLE XV

                                                    SEVERABILITY

      It is mutually agreed that all of the terms,  covenants,  provisions,  and
agreements  contained  herein are  severable  and that, in the event any of them
shall be held to be invalid by any  competent  court,  this  Agreement  shall be
interpreted as if such invalid term, covenant,  provision, or agreement were not
contained herein.

                                                     ARTICLE XVI

                                                        FORUM

      The  parties  hereto  consent  and agree that any  action to enforce  this
Agreement  or any  provision  therein  or any  rights  hereunder  or any  action
relating to the  employment of Employee  with  Employer  shall be brought in the
State of Nevada.

                                  ARTICLE XVII

                                 INDEMNIFICATION

                  Employer  shall  indemnify  Employee  whether  or not  then in
office,   to  the  fullest  extent  provided  for  in  Employer's   Articles  of
Incorporation or Bylaws, as in effect, or as may thereafter be amended, modified
or revised from time to time (collectively, "Employer's Articles"), or permitted
under the law of Nevada or such other state in which  Employer may  hereafter be
domiciled,  against any and all costs, claims,  judgments,  fines,  settlements,
liabilities,  and fees or expenses  (including,  without limitation,  reasonable
attorneys' fees) incurred in connection with any proceedings  (including without
limitation,  threatened  actions,  suits or  investigations)  arising out of, or
relating to, Employee's actions or in actions as a director, officer or employee
of  Employer  at any point  during his  employment  by or  service to  Employer,
whether under this Agreement,  any prior employment agreements or otherwise. The
indemnification  contemplated  under this Section  shall be provided to Employee
unless, at the time  indemnification is sought,  such  indemnification  would be
prohibited under the law of Nevada or of the state in which Employer may then be
domiciled; Employer may rely on the advice of its counsel in determining whether
indemnification is so prohibited.


<PAGE>


      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement at
Las Vegas, Nevada, on the      day of                   , 20___


SIERRA HEALTH SERVICES, INC.

By:______________________________
               Chief Executive Officer
               P. O. Box 15645
               Las Vegas, NV 89114-5645


EMPLOYEE

By:______________________________
               Paul H. Palmer
               1484 Flintrock
               Henderson, NV   89014