American Healthways, MIT AgeLab to Create Innovative Approaches to Hea

    Business Editors/Health/Medical Writers

    NASHVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 11, 2005--American Healthways, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMHC) today announced it will partner with the MIT AgeLab to research strategies and business solutions for a rapidly aging, chronically ill population. As an AgeLab sponsor, American Healthways will collaborate with Joseph F. Coughlin, PhD, founder and director of the MIT AgeLab, on projects related to the increasing prevalence of chronic disease and ways to invent a new lifestyle around wellness and vitality.
    "How the world deals with the influx of chronically ill patients on the horizon is the most critical issue in health care today," Dr. Coughlin said. "The AgeLab shares American Healthways' passion in seeking solutions to enhance the care for patients with chronic disease as health care systems across the globe brace for an unparalleled challenge."
    Estimates suggest the number of people worldwide age 60 or older will quadruple to 2 billion by 2050, creating a formidable burden on the future for health care. In the United States alone, at least 80 percent of seniors have at least one chronic condition, and 50 percent have at least two. Recent statistics project that chronic diseases account for 70 percent of all U.S. deaths and about 75 percent of health care costs each year.
    "By joining the significant efforts already underway with the MIT AgeLab, we are furthering our commitment - as reflected in our pending implementation of the Medicare Health Support pilot with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services - to fostering innovative approaches to chronic care for seniors," said Ben R. Leedle Jr., president and chief executive officer of American Healthways.
    Dr. Coughlin is recognized worldwide a leader in the field of aging and technology. He has published in a variety of aging, business and policy research journals. Dr. Coughlin consults regularly and has assisted numerous organizations including BlueCross BlueShield of Massachusetts, AARP, EDS and the American Business Collaborative for Quality Dependent Care, Johnson & Johnson, and the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.
    The MIT AgeLab is a partnership between MIT, industry and the aging community working to engineer innovative approaches and technologies that improve the quality of life of older adults and those that care for them. Based within MIT's School of Engineering's Engineering Systems Division, the MIT AgeLab has assembled a multidisciplinary and global team of researchers, business partners, universities, and the aging community to design, develop and deploy innovations to improve quality of life in areas such as housing, transportation, health, communications, leisure and the workplace.

    About American Healthways

    American Healthways, Inc. is the nation's leading and largest provider of specialized, comprehensive disease management, care enhancement and high-risk health management services proven to improve the quality of health care and lower costs. As of Feb. 28, 2005, the Company had approximately 1.5 million lives under management nationwide. For more information visit www.americanhealthways.com.

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CONTACT: American Healthways, Inc., Nashville Kriste Goad , 615-263-7524 kriste.goad@amhealthways.com

KEYWORD: TENNESSEE INDUSTRY KEYWORD: PHARMACEUTICAL CONSUMER/HOUSEHOLD SPORTS MEDICAL PRODUCT SOURCE: American Healthways, Inc.

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