News

M•Plan to Offer New Chiropractic Benefit through American Specialty Health

San Diego, CA (June 19, 2003) -- American Specialty Health Networks, Inc. (ASH Networks) today announced an agreement with M·Plan to provide a supplemental group rider for chiropractic benefits in Indiana.

The benefit program allows M·Plan members to directly access chiropractic benefits from contracted providers in the ASH Networks provider network without a referral from their primary care physician. ASH Networks operates a network of more than 150 contracted chiropractors in Indiana. The benefit plan includes a variety of member copayments and annual office visit limits.

"Chiropractic is one of the most popular components of health care for consumers," said George DeVries, president and CEO of ASH Networks. "We're pleased to support the efforts of M·Plan in developing a quality-driven, cost-effective program for their members."

"More and more people are using chiropractic services to supplement the traditional health care services that they receive from their doctors," said Dr. John Ellis, M·Plan’s associate medical director. "We wanted to provide our members with more value by providing benefits for these services."

M·Plan is one of Indiana's largest health plans, serving about 180,000 members. Its health networks and physicians are located throughout central and northern Indiana, including Indianapolis, Anderson, Avon, Brownsburg, Carmel, Fishers, Fort Wayne, Greenwood, Kokomo, Mooresville, Noblesville, Plainfield, and South Bend.

ASH Networks is a subsidiary of American Specialty Health, Incorporated (ASH). Through its subsidiaries, ASH Incorporated provides complementary health care benefit, affinity network and health education programs nationwide to health plans, insurance carriers, employer groups and trust funds. 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. 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 with more than 500 employees, ASH Incorporated and its subsidiaries cover more than 9 million members in benefit programs nationwide