Well-being enhancement company
Healthways
(
HWAY
) recently revealed an agreement with Anytime Fitness to provide,
from August 1, 2012, its Prime Fitness Program and SilverSneakers
Fitness Program at about 1,700 Anytime Fitness centers across the
U.S.
Anytime Fitness is reputedly the planet's largest and fastest
growing fitness chain. Since its inception in 2002, it has grown to
almost 2,000 centers across the globe with 1.4 million or so
members. Anytime Fitness provides enrollees with top-class exercise
gear at economical prices. The fitness club has operationalised
facilities in 49 states as well as overseas locations such as the
United Kingdom, Japan, Mexico, Canada, Australia and Qatar. Members
of Anytime Fitness can avail of any of its facilities.
The SilverSneakers Fitness Program encourages positive changes
in behavior by promoting a physical regimen. The program is open to
Medicare beneficiaries through various Medicare plans. Prime
Fitness is Healthways' commercially-oriented fitness plan. Both
fitness programs are scientific in nature and outcome based. They
promote active lifestyles among participants.
The Healthways model encourages people to make favorable
lifestyle changes that lead to enhanced well-being, reduced
healthcare costs, improved performance and economic value. The
company has invested in technology platforms that provide scalable
support with large populations. It has tie-ups with a large
proportion of U.S. health plans and counts many millions of lives
in its customer base.
Due to its unique scalable business model, Healthways shares
present a long-term investment opportunity although it may face
many challenges in the short to medium term. Healthways is the
leader in a strategically critical and rapidly evolving part of the
health care services market. Its fitness program (SilverSneakers)
for seniors is available at 14,000 centers across the U.S. and
caters to several million eligible enrollees.
Healthways competes with
Express Scrips
(
ESRX
) among others. We are currently Neutral on the stock, supported by
a short-term Zacks #3 Rank (Hold).
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