American Specialty Health Awards Scholarships to Massage Therapy Students

SAN DIEGO (August 24, 2004) – American Specialty Health (ASH), the nation's leading complementary health care benefits organization, announced that Janice Vidal, a student at the Florida School of Massage, is the winner of its 2004 scholarship award for students pursuing careers in massage therapy.

Criteria for the scholarships include grade point average, financial need, and participation in various professional activities. Each applicant was also required to submit a written essay on their studies in complementary health care. Ms. Vidal's essay was titled, "What Role Should Complementary Healthcare Play in Resolving the Health Care Crisis?"

"We are extremely proud of Janice and we know that she can make a significant contribution to the massage therapy field," said George DeVries, chairman, president, and chief executive officer of ASH. "ASH is proud to be able to help her along her career path."

Each year, students pursuing careers in various aspects of complementary health care may apply for scholarships totaling $41,000 through the ASH scholarship program. Qualifying students are those studying chiropractic, dietetics, naturopathy, massage therapy or acupuncture at any accredited institution in the country. In 2004, ASH will award scholarships in each of the following areas: chiropractic, acupuncture, massage therapy, naturopathy, and dietetics.

For information about ASH scholarships and future deadlines for students, please visit www.ashproviders.com.

ASH 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, ASH has more than 500 employees and more than 9 million members in benefit programs nationwide. For more information about ASH, visit their Web site at www.ashcompanies.com.