AAPPO Launches Partner Association – National Association of Specialty Health Organizations (NASHO)

Scottsdale, Arizona (January 20, 2003)- The American Association of Preferred Provider Organizations (AAPPO) today announced that it is launching a partner association to give voice to the country's specialty health care organizations at its 20th Anniversary Annual PPO Forum in Scottsdale, AZ.

The new partner association will be called the National Association of Specialty Health Organizations (NASHO) and will operate as a separate, legal non-profit association. NASHO's mission is to facilitate the viability and successful integration of specialty health organizations into the third-party reimbursement model.

"Specialty health organizations have long needed a unified voice," said George DeVries, NASHO founding board member and President and CEO of American Specialty Health, Inc. "NASHO will make certain their diverse business needs will be heard and allowed to be met."

NASHO will conduct the following programs and services on behalf of its membership:

• Inform/educate the public policy/regulatory arena about specialty health business practices
• Facilitate specialty health best practices and guidelines
Promote the value of specialty health through strategic communication outlets
• Support professional growth of specialty health professionals through comprehensive educational programs to meet their needs

"AAPPO has learned a considerable amount about serving as an effective advocate for the PPO industry over its 20-year history," said Joseph Driscoll, AAPPO Board Chairman and President and CEO of PHCS. "By sharing our experiences with this important and growing segment of the marketplace, we believe we can help create better healthcare for all Americans."

Founded in 1983, AAPPO (www.aappo.org) is the leading national association of network-based preferred provider organizations and affiliate organizations.