SAN DIEGO, Jul 26, 2001 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- American Specialty Health Networks(TM) (ASHN) has launched a national Medical Nutritional Therapy (MNT) program that makes dietetic counseling easily accessible as a covered health benefit to potentially millions of Americans nationwide. The program will be available starting January 1, 2002, as either a supplemental benefit plan or included in basic medical plans offered by health plans and employer groups.

In addition, ASHN is concurrently launching a discount program to make access to registered dietitians available at a reduced fee for individuals seeking nutritional counseling for any number of lifestyle reasons, from weight management to advice on simply eating healthier. This program reaffirms the mountains of data produced by the American Dietetic Association and others that better nutritional habits have a dramatic and positive affect on an individual's physical and mental well being. Two of the major illnesses that eating "right" has also shown to materially impact are -- diabetes and heart disease.

ASHN is part of American Specialty Health, the nation's leading health services organization providing affordable, quality complementary healthcare to members of health plans and employer groups. The Company was the first to make chiropractic care a "covered benefit" and is now blazing a similar trail in dietetic counseling.

"Medical science is becoming increasingly aware of the fact that nutrition plays a significant role in the prevention or treatment of many illnesses," says Dr. Douglas Metz, ASH's senior vice president of Health Services. "As a result, there is a widening demand and interest in obtaining information from credentialed clinicians regarding how someone might improve their health through proper nutrition."

In an era when people are increasingly interested in healthy lifestyle habits -- from nutrition to exercise to smoking cessation -- Dr. Metz believes that the new ASHN program will be particularly well received. "By availing themselves of the national ASHN network, people won't have to go hunting through books and web sites overwhelmed with information not applicable to their situation. Instead, they can easily access credentialed clinicians who can assure that their time will be well spent and productive."

Under the new MNT program, ASHN will offer two benefit plans from which health plans and employer groups may choose. The "limited" benefit plan covers patients with medically diagnosed diabetes, cardiovascular and pre-end stage renal disease. The "comprehensive" MNT benefit plan covers over 80 unique medical conditions for which dietetic services have been shown to be clinically appropriate and helpful.

Patients seeking therapy under either type of benefit plan select a participating dietitian from the ASHN network directory or through one of the Company's web sites. The ASHN model works to empower the patient. Once a patient is referred by a medical physician for dietetic services, the patient may select a dietitian of his or her choice from the ASHN network. Once the dietitian is selected and the referral is made, an initial office visit with the dietitian follows.

At the initial visit, the dietitian performs a nutrition assessment, determines the nature of the member's concerns as well as their goals and provides the member with an individual, customized nutrition care plan. The initial visit may also include (when applicable) education about drug/nutrient interaction counseling and/or dietary supplement evaluation and education. At follow-up visits, the dietitian assesses the need to continue or modify the nutrition care plan. The benefit plan typically allows between 6 and 40 office visits per year with members responsible for a co-payment of between $5 to $25 per visit. Typically there are no coinsurance or medical deductibles to meet.

The new benefit program will take affect January 1, 2002. By that date, ASHN expects to have several thousand registered dietitians in its network and will continue to expand that base throughout 2002. All members of the ASHN network are registered with the Commission on Dietetic Registration and/or are licensed or certified by state law, and meet all ASHN credentialing requirements.

"Product innovation and wellness have always been the cornerstones of our organization and our approach to complementary healthcare," says American Specialty Health President and CEO George DeVries. "By integrating nutritional counseling with other components of medical care, we are continuing to increase the patient's individual options relative to courses of treatment and lifestyle choice."

Based in San Diego, California, American Specialty Health and its affiliates provide complementary healthcare network access, affinity discount and benefit plan programs nationwide to health plans, insurance carriers, employer groups and trust funds. Currently, ASH provides full-risk administration of complementary healthcare benefits for 5.6 million health plan members. Through its affinity programs about 55 million individuals have access to one or more of ASH's services.

Since its national expansion two years ago, ASH has experienced a 500 percent growth in the size of its provider network. Today the ASH network of 19,000 providers includes acupuncturists, chiropractors, dietitians and massage therapists, among others. It is the largest such network in the country. The Company has been awarded full accreditation by the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission/URAC for the quality of its healthcare operations.

From Healthy.net