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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 PeE/cVqKiGK2D+E9VP9zil/AmQcMcumhTerV2MAnXFlBnBYvcxMhPtoPpUysLH5q
 Go7PVqdtAi6edEHxCbqwmA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-04-003134.txt : 20040115
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-04-003134.hdr.sgml : 20040115
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040115153631
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-04-003134
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040114
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040115

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:		04527299

	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>
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<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>bna86592_bna12hh1.xml
<DESCRIPTION>MAIN DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2004-01-14</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>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>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivative
Table><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2004-01-14</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>G</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>6820</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>26.90</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>471046</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2004-01-14</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</
transactionFormType><transactionCode>G</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>910</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>26.90</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>30764</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>Held by spouse</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>3462</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOw
nership><value>Held in 401(k) Plan</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding></nonDerivativeTable><ownerSignature><signatureName> /s/ Henry D. Herr</signatureName><signatureDate>2004-01-14</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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