News

Providence Health Plans Teams with American Specialty Health® Networks To Provide Complementary Health Care Benefit Programs

San Diego, (March 19, 2003) -- Providence Health Plans is now offering supplemental group benefit coverage in Oregon and Washington for complementary health care through American Specialty Health® Networks, Inc. (ASH Networks) for over 50,000 Providence Health Plan members, as well as making the ASH Networks provider network available to over 400,000 other members via Providence Preferred, Providence Health Plan's preferred provider organization.

The supplemental group benefit program allows Providence Health Plan members to access chiropractic, acupuncture and naturopathic benefits from contracted providers in the ASH Networks provider network. ASH Networks operates a network of more than 1,900 providers in Oregon and Washington. The supplemental group benefit plan includes varying member payments and annual office visit limits. Providence's PPO, Providence Preferred, is offering ASH Networks' chiropractic, acupuncture and naturopathic networks as part of its basic medical plan for 400,000 members. Benefits vary based upon basic medical plans.

In addition, ASH Networks is providing Providence Health Plan members with network access to its Affinity Program. Under this program, Providence Health Plan member, regardless of whether or not they have a complementary health care benefit, may visit ASH Networks chiropractors, acupuncturists, massage therapists and registered dietitians and take advantage of reduced fees.

"Complementary health care has become an integral part of most Americans' personal health care system," said George DeVries, American Specialty Health president and CEO. "We are pleased to team with Providence Health Plans to provide their customers with these programs."

"We believe ASH Networks' management guidelines and provider credentialing standards will lead to both better service for our customers, as well as increased cost savings," said Jack Friedman, chief executive, Providence Health Plan.

Providence Health Plans helps provide health care coverage to more than 800,000 adults and children in Oregon and southwest Washington. Providence focuses on improving the health of the people it serves by creating access to high quality health care programs and preventive services through top-rated benefit plans that are preferred by providers and customers. Providence Health Plans is part of Providence Health System in Oregon.

ASH Networks is a subsidiary of American Specialty Health, Incorporated (ASH Incorporated). Through its subsidiaries, ASH Incorporated provides benefit, affinity and health education programs nationwide to health plans, insurance carriers, employer groups and trust funds. Its services include utilization management, quality management, member and provider services, claims and credentialing. ASH Networks' affiliate American Specialty Health Plans of California, Inc. operates in California and is the nation's first and largest health plan for chiropractic and acupuncture services.

ASH Networks has been awarded full accreditation by the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission/URAC for its chiropractic, acupuncture, massage therapy, dietetics and naturopathy programs. Based in San Diego, ASH Incorporated and its subsidiaries cover more than 16 million members in benefit programs nationwide.