-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 V6UUAnweLqlUeAgBfxmndp9dgDhXiW0oDJuDydqTL5Ru7tJSM7AgIbjN1u+q4M08
 Vrfj2P4+aXOTY2VKotNgJQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000704415-05-000141.txt : 20051121
<SEC-HEADER>0000704415-05-000141.hdr.sgml : 20051121
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20051121143842
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000704415-05-000141
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20051111
FILED AS OF DATE:		20051121
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20051121

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			AMERICAN HEALTHWAYS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000704415
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-MISC HEALTH & ALLIED SERVICES, NEC [8090]
		IRS NUMBER:				621117144
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0831

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3841 GREEN HILLS VILLAGE DRIVE
		CITY:			NASHVILLE
		STATE:			TN
		ZIP:			37215
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6156651122

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3841 GREEN HILLS VILLAGE DRIVE
		CITY:			NASHVILLE
		STATE:			TN
		ZIP:			37215

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	AMERICAN HEALTHCORP INC /DE
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19940211

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			RIGBY ALISON TAUNTON
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001024054

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-19364
		FILM NUMBER:		051217636

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		365 PLANTATION ST
		STREET 2:		C/O CAMBRIDGE BIOTECH CORP
		CITY:			WORCESTER
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			01605
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5087913511

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O CAMBRIDGE BIOTECH CORP
		STREET 2:		365 PLANTATION ST
		CITY:			WORCESTER
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			01605
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>form4-atr_112105ex.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-11-11</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000704415</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>AMERICAN HEALTHWAYS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>AMHC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001024054</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>RIGBY ALISON TAUNTON</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O AMERICAN HEALTHWAYS</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>3841 GREEN HILLS VILLAGE DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NASHVILLE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TN</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>37215</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option to Buy</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>41.54</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2007-11-11</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-11-11</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>15000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Mary A. Chaput, by power of attorney for Alison Taunton-Rigby</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-11-21</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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