Joel Lipin Joins Sinaiko Healthcare Consulting as Managing Director of Reimbursement Services

LOS ANGELES, CA--(Marketwire - December 11, 2008) - Sinaiko Healthcare Consulting, Inc., one of the nation's leading independent healthcare management consulting firms, today announced that Joel Lipin, M.D., MPH, has joined the firm as managing director of reimbursement services.

Dr. Lipin, who previously worked in the Los Angeles office of PricewaterhouseCoopers, assumes responsibility for overseeing the day-to-day operations of Sinaiko's practice group that assists clients with improving performance with respect to their reimbursement revenue and systems in the context of today's highly complex payor, regulatory and compliance environment.

"Our firm works with medical groups, health systems, academic medical centers, hospitals, payors, investors and attorneys that rely on our consultants for strategic reimbursement advice and to analyze payments based on the appropriate codes and reimbursement schedules, then counsel them on how to make sure their organizations are receiving the appropriate level of payment for services rendered," said Richard Sinaiko, chairman and chief executive officer of Los Angeles-based Sinaiko Healthcare Consulting. "Joel is a highly experienced and well-respected healthcare professional who will provide senior management to this critical practice group in our firm. We're delighted that Joel has joined the Sinaiko team and look forward to his contributions for years to come."

Dr. Lipin has more than 20 years of experience in healthcare management. He has served as a director of consulting services for an Orange County firm, operated his own healthcare consulting firm, was a vice president of outpatient services for a national healthcare consulting firm, and spent the last decade at PricewaterhouseCoopers as a manager in the firm's healthcare industries advisory practice. He earned his undergraduate degree from U.C. Irvine, his medical degree from the American University of the Caribbean and a Masters of Public Health degree from U.C.L.A.

"From MS-DRGs to CPTs, the healthcare industry continues to rely on coding and other reimbursement methodologies for crucial data gathering, payment and compliance," said Dr. Lipin. "I'm pleased to join the Sinaiko team, which is made up of experienced healthcare professionals who understand that the practice and business of medicine depends on effective reimbursement programs."

Nguyen, Marcus Promoted

In related news, Sinaiko also announced the promotions of two valuable members of the firm. Dinh Nguyen, who joined Sinaiko Healthcare Consulting in 2006, has been promoted to senior director of compliance services; and Janet Marcus, who joined the firm in 2005, has been promoted to a director of reimbursement services.

"Dinh and Janet have both made extraordinary contributions to the growth of our firm and we are pleased to recognize their important work with these promotions," said Jeff Sinaiko, president of the firm. "Since its founding, our firm has relied upon senior level consultants to serve clients and Dinh and Janet are two wonderful examples of this depth of expertise that we are able to offer."

Sinaiko Healthcare Consulting was founded in 1990 by Richard Sinaiko, whose vision was to bring together the best and brightest consulting talent in the industry to provide expert advice, solutions and service to the firm's clients. Sinaiko senior consultants are professionals with 10 to 30 years of experience in various facets of the industry, including hospitals, medical groups, managed care organizations and academic institutions. The firm's primary service areas are: Revenue Cycle; Compliance; Valuation and Transactions; Reimbursement Services; Strategic Analytics; and Litigation Support. For more information, please go to www.sinaiko.com.

Contact Information: Media Contact: Daryn Teague Teague Communications 661.297.5292