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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000704415-08-000051.txt : 20081015
<SEC-HEADER>0000704415-08-000051.hdr.sgml : 20081015
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20081015192424
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000704415-08-000051
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	5
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20080831
FILED AS OF DATE:		20081015
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20081015

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			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:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		701 COOL SPRINGS BOULEVARD
		CITY:			FRANKLIN
		STATE:			TN
		ZIP:			37067
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6156144929

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		701 COOL SPRINGS BOULEVARD
		CITY:			FRANKLIN
		STATE:			TN
		ZIP:			37067

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	AMERICAN HEALTHWAYS INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20000322

	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:		5
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-19364
		FILM NUMBER:		081126150

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6156651122

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE BURTON HILLS BLVD
		CITY:			NASHVILLE
		STATE:			TN
		ZIP:			37215
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>5
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>form5-hdh101508_ex.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>5</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-08-31</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <form3HoldingsReported>0</form3HoldingsReported>

    <form4TransactionsReported>0</form4TransactionsReported>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000704415</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>HEALTHWAYS, INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>HWAY</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000903096</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HERR HENRY D</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>701 COOL SPRINGS BLVD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>FRANKLIN</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TN</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>37067</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-11-23</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>G</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2350</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>304299</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>18491</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Held by Henry D. Herr 2006 Healthways GRAT</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>4606</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Held in trust controlled by spouse</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3462</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Held in 401(k) Plan</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option to Buy</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>46.45</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2012-02-14</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-02-14</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Of the 2,350 shares gifted on November 23, 2007, 350 shares were given to a trust controlled by the reporting owner's spouse.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Upon maturity of the Henry D. Herr 2005 American Healthways GRAT on November 15, 2007, 6,106 shares were transferred to the
 reporting owner, and 1,646 shares
 were transferred into a trust controlled by the reporting owner's spouse.  These shares were transferred pursuant to the
 terms of the GRAT and were not reportable transactions under Rule 16a-13.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Of the 30,000 shares held by the 2006 GRAT, 11,509 were transferred from the GRAT to the reporting owner as grantor on
 October 17, 2007.  These shares were transferred pursuant to the terms of the GRAT and were not reportable transactions
 under Rule 16a-13.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Mary A. Chaput, by power of attorney for Henry D. Herr</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-10-15</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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