American Specialty Health Awarded URAC Accreditation for HIPAA Privacy and Claims Processing

San Diego, CA (July 15, 2003) -- American Specialty Health, Incorporated, the nation's leading complementary health care benefits organization, announced that it is one of the first companies to receive URAC HIPAA Privacy Accreditation and Claims Processing Accreditation.

URAC's HIPAA Privacy Accreditation is the first accreditation program created specifically for HIPAA Covered Entities and Business Associates. It is awarded to companies who demonstrate a commitment to fair information practices and have taken the necessary steps to protect health information privacy. American Specialty Health is one of the first six organizations to receive this impressive distinction.

In January 2003, American Specialty Health became the third company in the nation to receive URAC's Claims Processing Accreditation. This is one of URAC's newest accreditation programs and is designed to improve operations, protect consumers and providers, and reduce risks and costs for health care organizations.

"We are proud to be among the first organizations to receive URAC's HIPAA Privacy Accreditation and Claims Processing Accreditation," said George DeVries, chairman, president, and chief executive officer of American Specialty Health. "Our recent accreditations serve to further demonstrate our unwavering commitment to quality and accountability."

In addition to these latest accreditations, American Specialty Health's subsidiary ASH Networks, Inc. has earned accreditation for its chiropractic and acupuncture programs in each of the following five URAC programs: Health Utilization Management, Health Plan, Health Network with Credentialing, Workers' Compensation Utilization Management, and Workers' Compensation Network. ASH Networks has also earned URAC accreditation for its massage therapy, dietetics, and naturopathy programs. In 2002, American Specialty Health was awarded URAC Health Web Site Accreditation for healthyroads.com, ASHplans.com, and ASHnetworks.com for quality and accountability in online health information.

URAC is a leader in the accreditation of health and managed care organizations. Founded in 1990, URAC currently offers over 16 accreditation programs that span a broad spectrum of health care services. URAC has issued over 2,300 accreditation certificates to more than 500 health care programs. URAC-accredited organizations do business in all 50 states and provide services to more than 150 million Americans.

Garry Carneal, URAC President and CEO, said, "By applying for and receiving URAC accreditation, American Specialty Health has demonstrated a commitment to quality health care. Quality health care is crucial to our nation's welfare, and it is important to have organizations that are willing to measure themselves against national standards."

American Specialty Health, Incorporated and its subsidiaries are the nation's leading specialty benefits organization for complementary health care–providing benefit, health education, and affinity network programs to health plans, insurance carriers, employer groups, and trust funds nationwide. Its subsidiary American Specialty Health Plans of California, Inc., which operates in California, is the nation's first and largest specialty health plan for chiropractic and acupuncture. Based in San Diego, American Specialty Health has over 500 employees and more than 9 million members in benefit programs nationwide. For more information about American Specialty Health, visit its Web site at www.ashcompanies.com.