American Specialty Health Receives Third Consecutive California Fit Business Award

SAN DIEGO, Nov. 6, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- American Specialty Health (ASH), a national health and wellness organization, recently received a Silver California Fit Business Award for the third time from the California Task Force on Youth and Workplace Wellness. ASH received the same award in both 2007 and 2008.

The California Fit Business Awards, created in 2003, were designed to encourage employers throughout the state to find new and innovative ways to promote physical activity and healthy nutrition habits among employees. Each application is reviewed by two expert reviewers in a process that takes at least two months. The awards were handed out at a ceremony in Sacramento, Calif., on November 5.

ASH's culture of wellness begins in its San Diego headquarters. Here the company implements both traditional and unique health care initiatives for its employees. For instance, ASH offers:

 * Fun and creative health challenges, including a Polar heart rate
   monitor challenge where employees are entered into a raffle to
   win a Wii Fit after meeting specific exercise goals or the 2009
   Fruit and Veggie Challenge where employees counted the number of
   fruit and vegetables servings they consumed each day using
   brightly-colored wristbands.

 * Holiday health challenges that encourage employees to maintain
   their weight during the holiday season from November through
   January.

 * Healthy vending machines -- all items are reviewed by registered
   dietitians and no junk food is sold onsite.

 * An annual Get Healthy! Award presented to the employee who made
   the biggest healthy living improvements. The winner is
   recognized at ASH's annual corporate awards banquet.

The CA Task Force on Youth and Workplace Wellness recognized ASH for "walking the talk" of a modern, progressive health care and wellness company. In addition to traditional medical, dental, and vision benefits, ASH employees receive access to a variety of wellness and complementary health care benefit programs that the company makes available to more than 15.6 million health plan and employer group members nationwide. These include unique benefits such as chiropractic, massage therapy, and acupuncture, as well as a Healthyroads(R) Lifestyle Coaching Program for weight management, tobacco cessation, healthy living, nutrition improvement, and increasing physical activity. Employees are also eligible to participate in rewards and incentive programs. For example, employees may receive American Express-branded rewards cards for working out or practicing other healthy habits.

"Day in and day out, all of us at ASH are wholly dedicated to improving both our own and our members' health," said ASH chairman and CEO George DeVries. "Better health is our focus, and being recognized by the Task Force once again for this commitment is very rewarding to us all."

Earlier this year, ASH was named a "Best Employer for a Healthy Lifestyle" Gold award winner for the second time by the National Business Group on Health, one of America's 5000 fastest-growing private companies by Inc. magazine, and a best place to work in San Diego according to the San Diego Business Journal. Last year, ASH was among the 100 "Best Places to Work in Healthcare" according to Modern Healthcare and was listed as one of America's 15 fittest companies by Men's Fitness magazine.

About American Specialty Health

American Specialty Health Incorporated (ASH) is a national health and wellness company that provides population health management programs including prevention and wellness services, specialty network management programs, and fitness and exercise services to health plans, insurance carriers, employer groups, and trust funds. Based in San Diego since its inception in 1987, ASH has 700 employees and covers over 15.6 million members.

For more information about ASH health and wellness programs, visit www.ASHCompanies.com or call 800.848.3555.

CONTACT:  American Specialty Health 
          Debby Clark
            619.578.2000
            debbyc@ashn.com
          Tim Curns 
            800.848.3555
            timc@ashn.com