Coughlin Stoia Geller Rudman & Robbins LLP Files Class Action Suit Against Healthways, Inc

Business Wire,  June 5, 2008  

Tags: class action, class action suit

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NEW YORK -- Coughlin Stoia Geller Rudman & Robbins LLP ("Coughlin Stoia") (http://www.csgrr.com/cases/healthways/) today announced that a class action has been commenced in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee on behalf of purchasers of Healthways, Inc. ("Healthways" or the "Company") (NASDAQ:HWAY) common stock during the period between October 17, 2007 and February 26, 2008 (the "Class Period").

If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than 60 days from today. If you wish to discuss this action or have any questions concerning this notice or your rights or interests, please contact plaintiff's counsel, Samuel H. Rudman or David A. Rosenfeld of Coughlin Stoia at 800/449-4900 or 619/231-1058, or via e-mail at djr@csgrr.com. If you are a member of this class, you can view a copy of the complaint as filed or join this class action online at http://www.csgrr.com/cases/healthways/. Any member of the purported class may move the Court to serve as lead plaintiff through counsel of their choice, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member.

The complaint charges Healthways and certain of its officers and directors with violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Healthways provides disease management and wellness programs for health plans, hospitals and small businesses, helping members with diabetes, cancer and other diseases to coordinate care, keep up with treatment and maintain healthy behaviors.

The complaint alleges that, during the Class Period, defendants issued a series of materially false and misleading statements concerning the Company's financial performance and prospects. According to the complaint, starting in 2005, Healthways, along with four other companies, became involved in the Medicare Health Support ("MHS") pilot program launched by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services ("CMS"). The MHS program was designed to improve quality of care and life for people with multiple chronic conditions, and to help the Medicare program and its beneficiaries save money. Under the plan's first three-year phase, patients were tracked to evaluate care, satisfaction and whether the plan achieved savings targets. Based on those results, CMS would decide whether to expand the program to a second phase.

Specifically, the complaint alleges that Healthways failed to disclose that: (i) Healthways was not meeting the savings targets, among other requirements, set by CMS. As a result of Healthways' failure, CMS would not expand the MHS program to a second phase and the Company would be required to reimburse CMS for the fees they had already received through the program; (ii) Healthways was in danger of losing at least two existing contracts and was experiencing slower enrollment in an existing contract due to a decline in the need for the Company's services; and (iii) as a result of the foregoing, the Company had no reasonable basis for its revenues and earnings guidance for fiscal 2008.

Then, on February 26, 2008, the Company announced that it was lowering its financial guidance for fiscal 2008 "due to slower-than-projected enrollment in a new Health Support program with one large health plan customer and the recent indication that two previously anticipated contracts will not materialize during this fiscal year." Upon this news, shares of the Company's stock fell $13.42 per share, or approximately 30%, to close at $31.93 per share, on heavy trading volume.

Plaintiff seeks to recover damages on behalf of all purchasers of Healthways common stock during the Class Period (the "Class"). The plaintiff is represented by Coughlin Stoia, which has expertise in prosecuting investor class actions and extensive experience in actions involving financial fraud.

Coughlin Stoia, a 190-lawyer firm with offices in San Diego, San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, Boca Raton, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia and Atlanta, is active in major litigations pending in federal and state courts throughout the United States and has taken a leading role in many important actions on behalf of defrauded investors, consumers, and companies, as well as victims of human rights violations. The Coughlin Stoia Web site (http://www.csgrr.com) has more information about the firm.

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