HealthNet, Inc. Announces Complementary Health Care Program with ASHN

Kansas City (June 21, 2001) - HealthNet, Inc. of Kansas City announced that it has implemented a new complementary health care program for its 365,000 members throughout Missouri and Kansas. Administered by American Specialty Health Networks (ASHN), the new program, Alternatives for Health, will provide discounts of up to 25% on ASHN's network of chiropractors, acupuncturists and massage therapists.

All HealthNet members will have access to a wide array of complementary health care resources via the HealthNet website (www.healthnet-kc.com) through Healthyroads™, an ASHN affiliate. Features of Healthyroads include:

• One of the most comprehensive Internet sources of educational information on complementary health care services.
• More than 2,400 health and wellness products at significantly discounted prices.
• Products including vitamins, minerals, herbal and dietary supplements, homeopathic remedies, sports nutrition products, health-related books and audio/video tapes, relaxation CDs, yoga products and skin care items.
• A comprehensive, interactive program that includes a health assessment quiz and tools to provide information on personal health issues.
• An online directory of complementary health providers and fitness clubs across the nation participating in the ASHN network.

About HealthNet

Founded in 1984, HealthNet is the area's preferred managed health care company with more than 360,000 combined members in HMOs, PPOs, Medicare, Medicaid, mental health and pharmaceutical benefit plans. HealthNet serves its members through a network of 60 local and regional hospitals and access to more than 5,000 physicians.

HealthNet is locally owned and managed by these premier hospitals: Saint Luke's-Shawnee Mission Health System, Carondelet Health, Inc., and Liberty Hospital.

About ASHN

American Specialty Health and its affiliates provide network access, affinity discount and managed care programs nationwide to health plans, insurance carriers, employer groups and trust funds. Its comprehensive services include utilization management, quality management, member and provider services, claims and credentialing. Its affiliate American Specialty Health Plans® of California, Inc (ASHP) is the nation's first and largest health plan for chiropractic and acupuncture services, operating in California.

American Specialty Health has been awarded full accreditation by the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission/URAC for the quality of its health care operations. American Specialty Health Plans and American Specialty Health Networks have received accreditation for their chiropractic and acupuncture networks in each of the following five URAC programs: Health Utilization Management, Health Plan, Health Network with Credentialing, Workers' Compensation Utilization Management and Workers' Compensation Network. Based in San Diego, American Specialty Health has over 500 employees and covers more than 65 million members nationwide.

Further information on ASH may be obtained by calling
1-800-848-3555.