Blue Shield of California Contracts with American Healthways to Provide Care Management Services.NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- American Healthways Inc., (Nasdaq: AMHC AMHC Association of Mental Health Clergy AMHC Aviation Structural Mechanic Hydraulics Chief ), today announced a three-year agreement to provide disease management services to Blue Shield of California Blue Shield of California is a not-for-profit health insurance provider headquartered in San Francisco, California. An independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, Blue Shield of California is an incorporated, wholly owned subsidiary of California Physicians' , beginning Jan. 1, 2005. American Healthways will add its diabetes, coronary artery disease coronary artery disease, condition that results when the coronary arteries are narrowed or occluded, most commonly by atherosclerotic deposits of fibrous and fatty tissue. , 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. and asthma disease management services to the portfolio of disease management programs currently offered by Blue Shield of California. "We are pleased to have the opportunity to work with Blue Shield of California and look forward to helping them improve the health and quality of life for their members," said Ben R. Leedle Jr., president and chief executive officer of American Healthways. American Healthways' programs are designed to enhance the fundamental 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. Our interactions with patients are designed to closely 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 altogether avoid, costly health-care episodes. About Blue Shield of California Founded in 1939, Blue Shield of California is one of the state's leading health plans. Headquartered in San Francisco, the not-for-profit corporation has approximately 3.2 million members, 4,300 employees and more than 20 office locations throughout California. For more information on Blue Shield Blue Shield A US not-for-profit health care insurer that is a reimbursement intermediary for physicians. Cf Blue Cross. , visit the company's Web site at www.mylifepath.com. 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 more than 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 for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2003, and Part I, Item 2 of American Healthways' Quarterly Report on Form 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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