American Healthways Expands Relationship with Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield.NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- American Healthways Inc., (Nasdaq:AMHC AMHC Association of Mental Health Clergy AMHC Aviation Structural Mechanic Hydraulics Chief ) today announced a new five-year agreement with Des Moines, Iowa-based Wellmark Inc. to provide its disease management and care enhancement services to approximately 600,000 fully insured individual and group members of Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield Blue Shield A US not-for-profit health care insurer that is a reimbursement intermediary for physicians. Cf Blue Cross. and Wellmark Health Plan of Iowa, Inc.'s health plans beginning Jan. 1, 2005. American Healthways began offering its full suite of care enhancement programs, including diabetes, cardiac, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease chronic obstructive pulmonary disease n. Abbr. COPD A chronic lung disease, such as asthma or emphysema, in which breathing becomes slowed or forced. , asthma and 11 different impact conditions, to Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield's self-funded groups earlier this year. Four employer groups, representing more than 62,000 employees and dependents, have already elected to offer those services to their employees. "We are focused on providing our members and their physicians with the very best tools available to make informed decisions that lead to improved health, fewer disease-related complications and reduced health-care costs," said Dale Andringa, M.D., chief medical officer, Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield. "We selected American Healthways to administer our disease management program and work closely with our members' physicians and are pleased to be working with them to help improve the health of our members." American Healthways' programs are designed to enhance the care experience and reduce the cost of care, employing the principles of evidence-based medicine evidence-based medicine Decision-making 'The use of scientific data to confirm that proposed diagnostic or therapeutic procedures are appropriate in light of their high probability of producing the best and most favorable outcome'. See Meta-analysis. and recognized standards of care Standards of care are medical or psychological treatment guidelines, and can be general or specific. They specify appropriate treatment protocols based on scientific evidence, and collaboration between medical and/or psychological professionals involved in the treatment of a given to support the physician's plan of care and help people with chronic and other diseases improve their health. The programs monitor patients' conditions, educate them to become more effective self-managers of their disease and support them in creating and sustaining the behavior changes that result in better health. Advanced technologies also help determine those at high risk of health complications, enabling the provision of preventive interactions that can greatly reduce or avoid costly health-care episodes. Ben R. Leedle Jr., president and chief executive officer of American Healthways, said, "We value the confidence Wellmark has placed in our programs and in our company. We have had a great working relationship with Wellmark since they began offering our programs to their self-insured members earlier this year, and we look forward to a smooth and successful road ahead with their fully insured members as well." About Wellmark Wellmark, Inc. does business as Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Iowa. Wellmark and its subsidiaries and affiliated companies Affiliated Companies A situation that occurs when one company owns a minority interest (less than 50%) in another company. Also refers to companies that are related to each other in some way. Notes: An affiliated company is sometimes referred to as a subsidiary. , including Wellmark Health Plan of Iowa, Inc. and Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield of South Dakota, insure or pay health benefit claims for more than 1.8 million individuals. Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association
About American Healthways American Healthways 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, 2004, the Company had over 1.3 million lives under management nationwide. For more information, visit www.americanhealthways.com. Safe Harbor Safe Harbor 1. A legal provision to reduce or eliminate liability as long as good faith is demonstrated. 2. A form of shark repellent implemented by a target company acquiring a business that is so poorly regulated that the target itself is less attractive. Provisions This press release contains forward-looking statements that are based upon current expectations and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. In order for American Healthways to utilize the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (PSLRA) implemented several significant substantive changes affecting certain cases brought under the federal securities laws, including changes related to pleading, discovery, liability, class representation and awards fees and of 1995, investors are hereby cautioned that these statements may be affected by the important factors, among others, included in the discussion in Part I, Item 1, and Part II, Item 7, of American Healthways' Annual Report on Form 10-K Form 10-K A report required by the SEC from exchange-listed companies that provides for annual disclosure of certain financial information. Form 10-K See 10-K. for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2003, and Part I, Item 2 of American Healthways' Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q Form 10-Q See 10-Q. for the quarter ended May 31, 2004. Consequently, actual operations and results may differ materially from those expressed in these forward-looking statements. American Healthways undertakes no obligation to update or revise any such forward-looking statements. |
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