American Healthways Appoints Chief Medical Officer; Florida Cardiologist James E. Pope to Lead Outcomes and Quality Strategies.

Business Editors/Health/Medical Writers

NASHVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 10, 2003

American Healthways, Inc. (Nasdaq/NM: AMHC), the nation's leading and largest provider of disease management, care enhancement and high-risk health management services, today announced the appointment of James E. Pope, M.D., to the newly created position of executive vice president and chief medical officer. Dr. Pope has previously served as a member of the Company's Medical Advisory Council.

In his new role, Dr. Pope will be responsible for all strategic and operational initiatives related to outcomes, quality improvement, accreditation and the medical integrity of the Company's programs. In addition, he will represent the Company in its relationships with various specialty societies and academic institutions, including the Johns Hopkins-American Healthways Annual Disease Management Outcomes Summit in which Dr. Pope has participated as a steering committee member since its inception in 2000.

"I have seen firsthand the profound impact American Healthways' programs have on people's lives and their health, and I am excited to join a company whose mission and work I believe in so strongly," Pope said. "American Healthways is the industry leader in outcomes, accreditation and quality standards, and I am deeply motivated by the opportunity to help continue that tradition and lead us to the next level."

Ben R. Leedle Jr., president and chief executive officer, said: "As a long-time practicing physician, Dr. Pope understands the real-world issues and demands that too often stand between intention and implementation when it comes to standards of care. His experience, coupled with his passion to bridge the gaps in today's health-care system, bring new meaning and depth to American Healthways' already firm commitment to improve health-care quality and outcomes."

Prior to joining American Healthways, Dr. Pope was in private practice as a cardiologist and has been repeatedly named among Best Doctors in America(R). Throughout his career, Dr. Pope has been involved in medical quality improvement, utilization and peer review initiatives at numerous health plans and hospitals, including University Community Hospital in Tampa, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida (West Coast Region), Cigna Health Insurance (West Coast of Florida) and Prudential Health Insurance (West Coast of Florida). He has served as president of the HeartCare Institute of Tampa and president and medical director of Florida Cardiac Network, Inc. He has been on the clinical faculty at Wake Forrest's Bowman Gray School of Medicine and served as a consulting associate to the Department of Medicine at Duke University. Dr. Pope earned his bachelor's degree from Washington and Lee University and his M.D. from Eastern Virginia Medical School. He is board certified in internal medicine and cardiovascular diseases.

Dr. Pope is the fourth physician to join American Healthways this year, reflecting the Company's continuing commitment to medical excellence in the design, development and operation of its industry-leading disease management and care enhancement programs. He joins Dr. Mark S. Hackman, M.D., who started with the Company in March as vice president for medical integrity; Dr. Michael Montijo, who joined in June as vice president and medical director for business development; and Dr. Henriette Coetzer, who officially begins Jan. 5 as senior director medical integrity.

Prior to joining American Healthways, Dr. Hackman practiced general internal medicine for 12 years in Ft. Worth, Texas, and served as a regional medical director for a 90-physician primary care group, coordinating development of medical management procedures for quality improvement and utilization. Dr. Hackman also has served as chief of medicine for Southeast Permanente Medical Group with Kaiser Health Plan of Georgia and as an associate medical director with CIGNA Health Plan of Georgia. Dr. Hackman received his bachelor's degree from the University of Texas Arlington and his M.D. from the University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston Texas.

Prior to joining American Healthways, Dr. Montijo was a health-care consultant; COO and executive vice president, Coordinated Care Solutions, Inc.; executive vice president and chief medical officer, HIP Health Systems; chief medical officer, Eastern States Health Plan, Prudential HealthCare; and associate medical director, Health Care Plan (HCP). Dr. Montijo also has served as a senior NCQA physician reviewer and is a current fellow of the American College of Physicians and a member of the Disease Management Journal editorial board. He earned his bachelor's degree from the University of California, his M.D. from the UCLA School of Medicine and his master's from the Harvard School of Public Health.

Dr. Coetzer has served as a consultant to American Healthways for the past four years. She has served as CEO of CareCrafters Inc.; medical executive and chief medical officer, Southern Life Health Division; and senior clinician/team leader, Trauma Unit, Pretoria Academic Hospital. Dr. Coetzer also has been a lecturer on family medicine, public health and health-care financing for the universities of Pretoria and Cape Town. She earned her bachelor's degree from the University of Pretoria, her M.D. from the University of Pretoria School of Medicine and completed the US Federation of State Medical Boards Licensing Examination in 1993.

About American Healthways

American Healthways (AMHC) is the nation's leading and largest provider of specialized, comprehensive disease management, care enhancement and high-risk health management services proven to improve the quality of health care and lower costs. As of Aug. 31, 2003, the Company had 838,000 actual lives under management nationwide. For more information visit www.americanhealthways.com.