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George DeVries, Co-Founder, President, and CEO of American Specialty Health, Inc. Receives 2005 “BC Superstars” Award
Local Business Leader Recognized Nationally as Innovator in Employee Benefits for Specialty Health Care
SAN DIEGO (Dec. 15, 2005) - George Thomas DeVries, III, chairman, president, and CEO of American Specialty Health (ASH), has been awarded the 2005 “BC Superstars” award by Benefits & Compensation Solutions Magazine, one of the nation's foremost publications covering the field of employee benefits. The award is presented each year to select individuals across America who have made an impact or contribution in the area of enhancing employee benefits programs for employer groups, trusts and other organizations.
DeVries co-founded San-Diego based ASH in 1987 as a chiropractic network management company, and has since grown the company to its current status as the largest specialty health care organization for complementary care, wellness, and disease management for obesity in the U.S., with revenues in excess of $120 million, over 12.4 million members, over 28,000 contracted health providers, over 60 contracted health plans, and more than 500 employees.
“I'm extremely honored to be recognized by the highly respected editors and publishers at Benefits & Compensation Solutions magazine and FieldMedia, Inc.,” said DeVries. “I co-founded my company from a second bedroom in my home eighteen years ago, with the goal of establishing a specialty health care organization providing health benefits for chiropractic care. Fortunately, the demand for complementary and alternative benefits was so great that we expanded to cover acupuncture, massage therapy, dietetic counseling, and imagery. Today, we've continued to expand to offer wellness programs like tobacco cessation, weight management and healthy living, and disease management for obesity.”
Through the years, ASH achieved many “Industry Firsts”: American Specialty Health Plans of California, Inc. was first in California to obtain a chiropractic specialty health care plan license (1994), and an acupuncture license (1997). The company also obtained the nation's first accreditation as a chiropractic and acupuncture health plan and network from URAC, the nation's leading independent organization promoting health care quality through accreditation and certification programs.
An expert on the integration of complementary and alternative health care into third-party reimbursement arrangements, DeVries was appointed by President Clinton to the White House Commission on Complementary and Alternative Medicine Policy during the 1990s. He has testified before various Congressional and Legislative Committees about the importance of complementary health care.
DeVries has received numerous honors and recognition through the years. In 2004, he received the prestigious “Innovators Award” from America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) for establishing the first national specialty benefits insurance company for complementary health care. The Innovators Award recognizes industry leaders who demonstrate innovation and excellence in designing and implementing health care services and financing that meet the changing needs of consumers, and whose projects, products, services, and contributions lead to true industry advancement. In 2000, DeVries was awarded the Ernst & Young National Entrepreneur of the Year Award in Health Sciences, and in 1997 he received San Diego's Entrepreneur of the Year Award in Health Sciences. A nationally recognized speaker and the author of numerous articles on complementary health care, DeVries has been featured in health insurance, human resource, and benefits publications, and has spoken at the American Association of Health Plans, National Managed Health Care Congress, California Association of Health Plans, Health Care Finance Management Association, and the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans conferences and meetings. DeVries was the founding chairman of the National Association of Specialty Health Organizations.
ASH is a leading national specialty health organization focusing on complementary health care, wellness, disease management for obesity, and fitness. ASH provides health benefits, health education, affinity network, and wellness programs to employer groups, trust funds, health plans, and insurance carriers nationwide. Its subsidiary, ASH Insurance, is licensed or admitted as an insurer in 43 states and the District of Columbia. For information, visit ASHCompanies.com or call 800.848.3555.
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