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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 MXBmdHSTnGQZ0vBi0ebsf1QrartAac6z8oAxtiQi/6gFqnQs8BhG4iZvOBi50O3F
 K+od7324PF3jrjh5SBRZcw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-03-025964.txt : 20031017
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-03-025964.hdr.sgml : 20031017
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031017155548
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-03-025964
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030901
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031017

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			KELLIHER MATTHEW
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001266374

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-19364
		FILM NUMBER:		03946268

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3841 GREEN HILLS VILLAGE
		STREET 2:		DR STE 300
		CITY:			NASHVILLE
		STATE:			TN
		ZIP:			37215

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
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>bna85259_bna05mk.xml
<DESCRIPTION>MAIN DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>3</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-09-01</periodOfReport><noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned><issuer><issuerCik>0000704415</issuerCik><issuerName>AMERICAN HEALTHWAYS INC</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>AMHC</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001266374</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>KELLIHER MATTHEW</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>C/O AMERICAN HEALTHWAYS, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2>3841 GREEN HILLS VILLAGE DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>NASHVILLE</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>TN</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>37215</rptOwnerZipCode><rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Executive Vice President</officerTitle></reporting
OwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeTable><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Option to Buy</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>35.77</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2004-09-01</value><footnoteId id="F1" /></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-09-01</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>20000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Option vests 25% per year beginning on 09/01/2004.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName> /s/ Matthew Kelliher</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-10-17</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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