UNITED STATES
                  SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                        Washington, D.C. 20549


                             SCHEDULE 13G

               Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934


                          (Amendment No. 5)*


                    American Healthways, Incorporated
                             (Name of Issuer)

                               Common Stock
                      (Title of Class of Securities)

                                02649V104
                              (CUSIP Number)

                            December 31, 2004
         (Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement)


Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this
Schedule is filed:
[X] Rule 13d-1(b)
[ ] Rule 13d-1(c)
[ ] Rule 13d-1(d)


*The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting
person's initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class
of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information
which would alter the disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not
be deemed to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of
that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of
the Act (however, see the Notes).


















CUSIP: 02649V104                                                Page 1 of 4



 1   NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS
     I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY)
     Capital Research and Management Company
     95-1411037

 2   CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (SEE
     INSTRUCTIONS)                                                 (a)

                                                                    (b)
 3   SEC USE ONLY


 4   CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

     Delaware

             5   SOLE VOTING POWER

                  NONE


             6   SHARED VOTING POWER
 NUMBER OF
   SHARES         NONE
BENEFICIALL
 Y OWNED BY
             7   SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
    EACH
 REPORTING        550,000
   PERSON
   WITH:
             8   SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

                  NONE

 9   AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

     550,000     Beneficial ownership disclaimed pursuant to Rule 13d-4



 10  CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES
     (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)


 11  PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9

     1.7%

 12  TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (SEE INSTRUCTIONS)

     IA








CUSIP: 02649V104                                                Page 2 of 4


                  SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                         Washington, DC 20549

                             Schedule 13G
               Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Amendment No. 5

Item 1(a)     Name of Issuer:
       American Healthways, Incorporated

Item 1(b)     Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices:
       3841 Green Hills Village Drive
       Nashville, TN  37215

Item 2(a)     Name of Person(s) Filing:
       Capital Research and Management Company

Item 2(b)     Address of Principal Business Office or, if none,
       Residence:
       333 South Hope Street
       Los Angeles, CA  90071

Item 2(c)     Citizenship:   N/A

Item 2(d)     Title of Class of Securities:
       Common Stock

Item 2(e)     CUSIP Number:
       02649V104

Item 3     If this statement is filed pursuant to sections 240.13d-1(b)
       or 240.13d-2(b) or (c), check whether the person filing is a:
       (e)      [X]     An investment adviser in accordance with
            section 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E).

Item 4     Ownership

       Provide the following information regarding the aggregate
       number and percentage of the class of securities of the issuer
       identified in Item 1.

       See page 2

       (a)    Amount beneficially owned:
       (b)    Percent of class:
       (c)    Number of shares as to which the person has:
       (i)    Sole power to vote or to direct the vote:
       (ii)   Shared power to vote or to direct the vote:
       (iii)  Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of:
       (iv)   Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of:

       Capital Research and Management Company, an investment adviser
       registered under Section 203 of the Investment Advisers Act of
       1940 is deemed to be the beneficial owner of 550,000 shares or
       1.7% of the 32,975,000 shares of Common Stock believed to be
       outstanding as a result of acting as investment adviser to
       various investment companies registered under Section 8 of the
       Investment Company Act of 1940.

CUSIP: 02649V104                                                Page 3 of 4

Item 5     Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class.  If this
       statement is being filed to report the fact that as of the date
       hereof the reporting person has ceased to be the beneficial
       owner of more than five percent of the class of securities,
       check the following: [X]

Item 6     Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of Another
       Person: N/A

Item 7     Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which
       Acquired the Security Being Reported on By the Parent Holding
       Company or Control Person.: N/A

Item 8     Identification and Classification of Members of the Group:
       N/A

Item 9     Notice of Dissolution of Group:  N/A

Item 10     Certification

       By signing below, I certify that, to the best of my knowledge
       and belief, the securities referred to above were acquired and
       are held in the ordinary course of business and were not
       acquired and are not held for the purpose of or with the effect
       of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of the
       securities and were not acquired and are not held in connection
       with or as a participant in any transaction having that purpose
       or effect.

     Signature

       After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and
       belief, I certify that the information set forth in this
       statement is true, complete and correct.


        Date:          February 4, 2005

        Signature:     *Paul G. Haaga, Jr.
        Name/Title:    Paul G. Haaga, Jr., Executive Vice
                       President
                       Capital Research and Management Company



        *By    /s/ James P. Ryan
               James P. Ryan
               Attorney-in-fact

               Signed pursuant to a Power of Attorney dated January 10,
               2005 included as an Exhibit to Schedule 13G filed with
               the Securities and Exchange Commission by Capital
               Research and Management Company on February 4, 2005 with
               respect to Advanced Energy Industries





CUSIP: 02649V104                                                Page 4 of 4