American Specialty Health's George DeVries Receives 2004 Innovators Award from America's Health Insurance Plans -AHIP-.

SAN DIEGO -- George DeVries, cofounder, chairman, and chief executive officer of American Specialty Health (ASH) in San Diego, has been presented the 2004 Innovators Award by America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP). DeVries was recognized for establishing the first national specialty benefits insurance company for complementary health care.

The award was presented by the AHIP Foundation at AHIP's annual awards dinner, held June 17 in Chicago. The Foundation's Excellence in Health Care Leadership Awards are given to individuals and member organizations in recognition of their outstanding contributions in health care. The Innovators Award seeks to recognize industry leaders who demonstrate "innovation and excellence in designing and implementing health care services and financing that meet the changing needs of consumers, and whose projects, products, services, and contributions lead to true industry advancement."

DeVries cofounded ASH in 1987, working from a second bedroom in his home. Since then, ASH has grown to become the nation's largest complementary health care services organization, measured in terms of annual revenues ($100 million), total members (more than 70 million including managed benefit programs, network access programs, e-commerce/mail-order programs and affinity programs), total employees (over 500), total number of contracted providers (over 28,000), and total contracted health plans (over 60).

Through the years, ASH has achieved numerous "Industry Firsts." For example, American Specialty Health Plans of California, Inc. was first in California and the nation to obtain a specialized health plan license for chiropractic (1994), and for acupuncture (1997). The company also obtained the nation's first accreditation as a chiropractic and acupuncture health plan and network from URAC, an independent, nonprofit organization recognized as a national leader in promoting health care quality through its accreditation and certification programs. In addition, American Specialty Health Insurance Company (ASH Insurance), which was formerly known as Western Diversified Life Insurance Company when ASH acquired it in 2001, is one of the first insurance companies to offer supplemental insurance plans for complementary health care directly to employers. ASH Insurance is licensed or admitted in 42 states and the District of Columbia.

An expert on the integration of complementary and alternative health care into third-party reimbursement, DeVries was appointed to the White House Commission on Complementary and Alternative Medicine Policy. He has testified before various Congressional and Legislative Committees, has authored numerous articles on complementary health care, and has been a featured speaker for various organizations. DeVries currently serves as chairman of the National Association of Specialty Health Organizations.

DeVries has been recognized by numerous organizations for his leadership. He was named the Ernst & Young National Entrepreneur of the Year in Health Sciences (2000) and San Diego's Entrepreneur of the Year in Health Sciences (1997). He was named Outstanding Alumnus of UCSD, and received the National Leadership Award from Impact Urban America.

ASH is the nation's leading specialty benefits organization for complementary health care, providing health benefits, health education, and affinity network programs to employer groups, trust funds, health plans, and insurance carriers nationwide. ASH and its subsidiaries administer and manage supplemental group benefit riders for acupuncture, chiropractic, and massage therapy on behalf of health plans, currently covering tens of thousands of groups nationally.

Based in San Diego, ASH has over 500 employees and more than 9 million members in benefit programs nationwide. For more information about American Specialty Health, visit www.ashcompanies.com.