American Specialty Health® Announces New Health Care Program Through Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia and Blue Cross and Blue Shield Healthcare Plan of Georgia

Atlanta, GA, (March 24, 2003) -- American Specialty Health (ASH) of San Diego, CA. today announced a broad-based health care program including a chiropractic benefit program, a discount affinity program for chiropractic, acupuncture and massage therapy, and a consumer retail and education program, through Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia and Blue Cross and Blue Shield Healthcare Plan of Georgia (BCBSGA/BCBSHP).

BCBSGA/BCBSHP members can now access the ASH chiropractic network for any services that may be covered under their benefit plans.

Additionally, all BCBSGA/BCBSHP members are able to use a discount affinity program through ASH Networks to obtain discounts of up to 25% on certain health-related services and products that are not covered benefits. And, all BCBSGA/BCBSHP members have access to a wide array of health care resources on the Internet including health and wellness products, an online provider directory, health assessment tools and educational information through Healthyroads^TM, another ASH affiliate.

"We are pleased to work with BCBSGA to provide their members with health care programs including chiropractic benefits, discount and network access programs, as well as Internet resources and health products," said George DeVries, chairman and chief executive officer of ASH.

"We are delighted to offer this program for our members in conjunction with ASH Networks' credentialed network of chiropractors, acupuncturists and massage therapists," said Charlie Harman, Vice President of Public Affairs for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia serves more than 2.2 million medical members and it is the oldest and largest health benefits company in Georgia. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia is an operating subsidiary of WellPoint Health Networks Inc., one of the nation's largest publicly traded health care companies serving the health care needs of more than 13 million medical members and approximately 48 million specialty members nationally. WellPoint offers a broad spectrum of quality network-based health products including open access PPO, POS and hybrid products, HMO and specialty products. Specialty products include pharmacy benefit management, dental, utilization management, vision, mental health, life and disability insurance, long term care insurance, flexible spending accounts, COBRA administration, and Medicare supplements. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia may be found on the web at www.bcbsga.com. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

American Specialty Health® and its affiliates provide chiropractic network access, affinity and benefit programs nationwide to health plans, insurance carriers, employer groups and trust funds. Its affiliate American Specialty Health® Plans of California, Inc (ASH Plans) is the nation's first and largest health plan for chiropractic and acupuncture services, operating in California. For more information about American Specialty Health, visit its Web site at www.ashcompanies.com.

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, American Specialty Health has almost 500 employees and covers more than 69 million members nationwide.

Healthyroads was one of the first Web sites in the nation to receive Health Web Site Accreditation