-----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,
 SUxU/m934wT9LB/OGRpsoUCQk1vRm3WU2/wl0UMHQJ1lbmWxtYBOndznE1sC8wRP
 lEO39d3kE+Xn6GSaBWUvUQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001248030-03-000001.txt : 20030630
<SEC-HEADER>0001248030-03-000001.hdr.sgml : 20030630
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030630122213
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001248030-03-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030618
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030630

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BISGARD JAY C
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001248030

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-19364
		FILM NUMBER:		03763231

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3841 GREEN HILLS VILLAGE DR
		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>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-06-18</periodOfReport>


    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001248030</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BISGARD JAY C</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Option</value>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
        </securityTitle>
        <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <value>24.35</value>
        </conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <exerciseDate>
            <value>2003-06-18</value>
            <footnoteId id="F2"/>
        </exerciseDate>
        <expirationDate>
            <value>2013-06-18</value>
        </expirationDate>
        <underlyingSecurity>
            <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </underlyingSecurityTitle>
            <underlyingSecurityShares>
                <value>15000</value>
            </underlyingSecurityShares>
        </underlyingSecurity>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeSecurity>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Subject to shareholder approval of a new equity incentive plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Option vests 1/3 each June 18 beginning in 2003 and ending in 2005.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/Jay C. Bisgard</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-06-27</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

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