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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,
 OfqsiUXWpYNSS0x+b9chN8oI4198yfLYsLSfFrou0e3m93Qvrgma9twxkOOupazn
 TIHDF8DTa9R/QH5igqTHOw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-03-016843.txt : 20030813
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-03-016843.hdr.sgml : 20030813
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030813134533
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-03-016843
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030813
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030813

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:			HERR HENRY D
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000903096

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-19364
		FILM NUMBER:		03840291

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE BURTON HILLS BLVD
		CITY:			NASHVILLE
		STATE:			TN
		ZIP:			37215
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6156651122

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE BURTON HILLS BLVD
		CITY:			NASHVILLE
		STATE:			TN
		ZIP:			37215
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>bna84519_bna01hh.xml
<DESCRIPTION>MAIN DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-08-13</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000704415</issuerCik><issuerName>AMERICAN HEALTHWAYS INC</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>AMHC</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0000903096</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>HERR HENRY D</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1></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><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransacti
on><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-08-13</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>G</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>650</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>32.69</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>288933</value><footnoteId id="F1" /></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-08-13</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transact
ionFormType><transactionCode>G</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>650</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>32.69</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>289583</value><footnoteId id="F1" /></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>Held by trust fund controlled by wife</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction></nonDerivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">In addition, the Reporting Person indirectly beneficially owns (i) 1,731 shares of common stock as of August 11, 2003 under the Issuer's 401(k) Plan and (ii) 14,232 shares of common stock in his wife's name.  The Reporting Per
son also directly beneficially owns 88,751 employee stock options representing rights to purchase an equivalent number of shares of common stock, which have various exercise prices, exercise dates and expiration dates.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName> /s/ Henry D. Herr</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-08-13</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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