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Physicians Health Plan of Mid-Michigan Selects Healthyroads to Administer Tobacco Cessation Programs for Over 80,000 Members

Posted on: Wednesday, 24 August 2005, 06:00 CDT

American Specialty Health (ASH), the nation's largest complementary health care benefits organization, announced a new agreement by its subsidiary Healthyroads with Physicians Health Plan of Mid-Michigan (PHPMM) to administer tobacco cessation programs for eligible Commercial HMO/POS and Family Care Medicaid members.

Eligible members will have access to telephone coaching for tobacco cessation from health educators. Family Care Medicaid members will be able to receive up to five coaching sessions. For a $35 one-time fee, PHPMM Commercial members will be able to receive up to seven coaching sessions.

"American Specialty Health is excited that our subsidiary Healthyroads is able to provide Physicians Health Plan of Mid-Michigan with these valuable health education tools," said George DeVries, chairman, president, and chief executive officer of ASH. "The tobacco cessation program will allow Physicians Health Plan members to receive the motivation and education they need to quit smoking."

Physicians Health Plan of Mid-Michigan began in 1980, when Sparrow Health System (SHS) and a group of visionary physicians began developing mid-Michigan's first broad-based Independent Practice Association model HMO. Today, PHPMM remains a division of SHS, with more than 1,300 practitioners and 11 hospitals participating in PHPMM's provider network. PHPMM has 70,000 members in its Commercial HMO/POS plans and 19,000 members in its Family Care Medicaid program.

Healthyroads, Inc. is a subsidiary of American Specialty Health, Incorporated. Measured in terms of annual revenues, members/insureds, employees, and contracted health plans, ASH and its subsidiaries comprise the nation's largest organization for complementary health care benefit programs, health education programs, and health-related products. ASH administers benefit programs for 12.1 million members and affinity discount programs for over 80 million members. In addition to weight management and tobacco cessation, Healthyroads provides wellness programs and other tools to help members get in shape, eat healthier, and achieve positive lifestyle habits. ASH headquarters is located at 777 Front St., San Diego, Calif. 92101; phone 800-848-3555. ASH also has regional sales offices in 18 other metropolitan areas nationwide, including: Atlanta, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Denver, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Francisco, Seattle, and Washington, D.C.

Visit ASH online at ASHCompanies.com.

Source: Business Wire

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