American Specialty Health Awards Scholarship to WSCC Student

SAN DIEGO, CA (November 25, 2002)- American Specialty Health, the nation's leading complementary health services organization, announced the first winner of its scholarship award for students pursuing careers in the complementary health care field. Mary Xenia Fagan, a second-year chiropractic student at Western States Chiropractic College in Portland, Oregon, won the $15,000 award with her essay "Integrative Medicine: The Healthcare of the Future."

Criteria for the scholarships include grade point average, a written essay and financial need, as well as the student's participation in activities that promote their respective profession to both the health care community and the public their profession serves.

"Our sincere appreciation goes out to all the entrants/students who wrote such excellent essays on their vision for the integration of complementary health care. We congratulate Ms. Fagan for creating an outstanding paper," said George DeVries, chairman, president and chief executive officer of American Specialty Health. "We are extremely pleased to be able to offer these scholarships which recognize academic excellence and enthusiasm towards complementary medicine."

Students pursuing careers in various aspects of complementary health care may apply for scholarships totaling $45,000 each through the American Specialty Health scholarship program. Qualifying students are those studying chiropractic, dietetics, naturopathy, massage therapy or acupuncture at any accredited institution in the country. Up to five scholarships are awarded annually.

"This program helps broaden our commitment to education by providing financial assistance to those who will one day become our future leaders," DeVries said.

Information on the scholarship program and applications may be found at www.ashproviders.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, customer service, claims administration, clinical services management, and provider credentialing. Its affiliate American Specialty Health Plans® of California, Inc is the nation's first and largest specialty health plan for chiropractic and acupuncture services, operating in California. American Specialty Health has nearly 500 employees and covers more than 9 million members nationwide under benefit programs.