Oxford Health Plans to Enhance Congestive Heart Failure Program - American Healthways to Offer Care Services - - Part of Three-Year Health Management Update - - Delivers on Healthcare Initiatives Strategies -

TRUMBULL, Conn., March 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Oxford Health Plans, Inc. (NYSE: OHP) has signed a multi-year agreement with American Healthways (Nasdaq: AMHW) to enhance its HeartSmart(SM) program in the area of congestive heart failure (CHF). Under the contract, American Healthways will reach out to Oxford's more than 17,000 CHF members to enroll them in this voluntary care enhancement program. Participating members will be assigned nurse case managers, and receive support services including educational mailings and ongoing evaluation of their health status. The program is designed to support physicians and cardiologists who continue to direct their patients' treatment plans in an effort to help members achieve optimal clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction. "These programs have the potential to be of substantial benefit for both members and physicians because we know that patients with chronic medical illnesses will typically be more compliant with treatment plans and reporting clinical changes when they are educated about their conditions and receive individual guidance and encouragement," said Marshall Matos, M.D., FACC, co-author of Monograph on Managing the Heart Failure Epidemic, Oxford consultant and Oxford participating cardiologist. "Working as a team made up of a member, Oxford and American Healthways, we are hopeful that we can improve a patient's health and patient care." Alan M. Muney, M.D., chief medical officer of Oxford, added, "Our relationship with American Healthways is another important milestone in Oxford's healthcare initiatives strategy, targeted to increasing healthcare affordability, while maintaining or enhancing the quality of care." Oxford started its cardiovascular programs in 1997, and in the early years of the program Oxford nurse case managers worked with physicians and members with CHF and other cardiac diseases to develop individualized treatment programs for those members. In 2001, Oxford updated the program to address more members at risk for cardiovascular disease under the program name of HeartSmart(SM). Oxford wellness and disease management programs are designed to support the doctor-patient relationship by assisting in the coordination of care; providing on-going comprehensive patient support; and encouraging high-risk members to comply with physician treatment plans. In addition to HeartSmart(SM), Oxford offers individualized disease management programs for members with diabetes, asthma, renal disease and others. Founded in 1984, Oxford Health Plans, Inc. (http://www.oxfordhealth.com) provides health plans to employers and individuals in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, through its direct sales force, independent insurance agents and brokers. Oxford's services include traditional health maintenance organizations (HMOs), point-of-service (POS) plans, preferred provider organization (PPO) plans, third-party administration of employer-funded benefits and Medicare plans. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release may contain comments that are considered forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable federal securities laws and are based upon Oxford's current expectations and assumptions, which are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to materially differ from those anticipated. A discussion of those risks and uncertainties is included in the discussion under "Business - Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" in the Oxford annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2000.