American Specialty Health Announces; Five-Day Payment Turnaround for Network Providers.

Business Editors & Health/Medical Writers

American Specialty Health Inc., the nation's leading complementary health services organization, today introduced a program whereby providers who interface electronically with American Specialty Health, including submitting claims electronically, will be paid within five business days for services rendered.

The company's provider network includes more than 20,000 chiropractors, acupuncturists, massage therapists, dietitians and naturopathic physicians nationally.

American Specialty Health began developing ASHLink over 2 years ago and the system has been operational for over a year. Currently, there are over 1,500 providers registered to utilize ASHLink. The features of ASHLink include the ability for providers to query member eligibility and benefits information, submit claims and treatment plans electronically and access a variety of resource information.

For those providers who use ASHLink primarily for their interface with American Specialty Health, they will be eligible for 5-business day claims payment on all claims submitted electronically. A provider would submit the claim on Day 1 and the claim would be processed by Day 3. On Day 4, the Explanation of Benefit Description would be posted to ASHLink for the provider to retrieve and by Day 5, the funds would be electronically deposited into the provider's account. "The five-day payment turnaround and the expanded ASHLink capabilities directly respond to our providers desire for expedited cash flow and greater operating efficiencies," said George DeVries, American Specialty Health chairman, president and CEO. "By assisting our providers to save time and money in their daily operations, everyone benefits, including the patients who we are all ultimately here to serve."

The new features and functionality now available or coming soon on ASHLink, will allow network providers to interact with American Specialty Health seven days per week, 20 hours per day.

The expansion of ASHLink comes less than 90 days after American Specialty Health unveiled a new Internet strategy that included the introduction of www.ASHcompanies.com, the organization's first all-inclusive corporate Web site. Through separate easy-to-navigate links, visitors may immediately access information specific to their needs or connect to one or more of American Specialty Health's other award-winning Web sites including:

-- www.ASHplans.com -- information on American Specialty Health Plans of California Inc., the State's first and largest specialty health plan for chiropractic and acupuncture services.

-- www.ASHnetworks.com -- information on American Specialty Health Networks Inc. that provides national complementary health care networks with administrative services.

-- www.Healthyroads.com -- a consumer-focused site offering e-commerce/mail-order programs such as product retailing for health-related products, access to educational resources as well as provider information for ASH Networks' national complementary health care networks.

In April, ASHplans.com and ASHnetworks.com were awarded Health Web Site Accreditation by American Accreditation HealthCare Commission/URAC reviews. This was a first of its kind accreditation program designed to promote quality and accountability in online health information and services. Four months earlier, the company received URAC accreditation for Healthyroads.com.

Based in San Diego, American Specialty Health and its affiliates provide specialty benefit plans, educational programs and affinity discount programs nationwide to health plans, insurance carriers, employer groups and trust funds. Its services include quality management, member and provider services, claims, clinical services management, and credentialing. Its affiliate American Specialty Health Plans(R) of California Inc. (ASH Plans) is the nation's first and largest specialty health plan for chiropractic and acupuncture services, operating in California.

American Specialty Health has over 550 employees and has over 9 million members in covered benefits and over 60 million members in affinity and discount programs nationwide.