American Specialty Health Significantly Enhances Service to Network of Providers Through Alliance with Gateway.

Business Editors/Health & Medical Writers

SAN DIEGO--(BW HealthWire)--July 29, 2002

American Specialty Health, the nation's leading specialty benefits organization focused on complementary health care, has entered into a strategic alliance with Gateway Inc. (NYSE:GTW).

The agreement is designed to enhance the electronic interaction between American Specialty Health and its more than 22,000 contracted chiropractors, acupuncturists, massage therapists, dietitians, naturopaths and other providers nationwide.

Under their agreement, Gateway will offer American Specialty's contracted providers purchase and financing options on new computer equipment and upgrades, including installation and high-speed Internet connectivity solutions. In addition, providers nationwide will soon be invited to visit a Gateway Country Store in their area and receive free training on their Gateway equipment along with instruction on how to connect and interact with ASHLink, American Specialty Health's provider Web site.

ASHLink is a secured Web site which allows its provider network to electronically submit claims and proposed treatment plans, as well as inquire about the status of member eligibility or benefits, obtain status on claims and proposed treatment plans and access on-line reference materials including agreements and operations manuals.

Beginning immediately, American Specialty Health providers are able to receive claims payment within five (5) business days of submission if they electronically submit claims and utilize the other features of ASHLink. This rapid claims payment turnaround constitutes a major breakthrough for the industry and is expected to generate significant interest within the provider community.

"The new services provided through ASHLink offers substantial efficiencies to the providers and that means greater responsiveness to their patients, as well as expedited cash flow for the providers," said George DeVries, chairman and chief executive officer of American Specialty Health. "The expansion of ASHLink and our alliance with Gateway supports our overall philosophy of intelligently leveraging the Internet to make it easier for providers, to find the information and services they need."

"We've been helping small-to medium-sized business for years by outfitting them with the latest and best technology solutions," said Gateway Chairman and CEO, Ted Waitt. "So this alliance just makes good business sense -- we become the IT department for 22,000 American Specialty Health network providers and they get a great deal on technology that helps them more efficiently manage their business."

In support of this effort, American Specialty is embarking on a program designed to increase the number of providers registered for ASHLink as well as the volume of transactions each is submitting. To achieve this goal, the company has designated a corporate team whose primary role will be to assist providers in converting their transactions to ASHLink.

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. From the site, visitors can quickly find information on the company's products, services and latest news, plus background information on its history, vision and leadership team.

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, customer service, claims administration, clinical services management, and provider credentialing. Its affiliate American Specialty Health Plans(R) of California Inc. (ASHP) 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 covers more than 9 million members nationwide under benefit programs and 60 million members under discount affinity programs.