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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,
 IK7SPhkiFMVO0CLxU5924slL0NNlbLdzW3Ft0WnhgjAk9HoJcbddHNifV3Ze6Bbl
 pHnzycqkMVj/1Jp2Rs+HCQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-03-014825.txt : 20030731
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-03-014825.hdr.sgml : 20030731
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030731213546
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-03-014825
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030729
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030731

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:		03816192

	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>bna84122hh_bna1.xml
<DESCRIPTION>MAIN DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-07-29</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>2003-07-29</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>S</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>20000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>35.0761</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>349583</value><footnoteId id="F1" /></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-07-30</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</tran
sactionFormType><transactionCode>S</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>60000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>34.3813</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>289583</value><footnoteId id="F1" /></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction></nonDerivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">In addition, the Reporting Person indirectly beneficially owns (i) 1,731 shares of common stock as of July 29, 2003 under the Issuer's 401(k) Plan and (ii) 14,232 shares of common stock in his wife's name.  The Reporting Person 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>2003-07-30</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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