Freed Maxick Continues Expansion of Healthcare Consulting Practice

BUFFALO, N.Y., Jan. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Freed Maxick & Battaglia, CPAs, PC announces that two healthcare professionals have joined the Firm's Healthcare Assurance and Consulting Services Practice. Carol Hamel has joined the Firm as a Manager and will be based in Syracuse, NY. Colleen Nettina, CPA has joined the Firm as Consultant and will be based in the Firm's Buffalo office. The additions will serve to boost Freed Maxick's Healthcare Assurance and Consulting Services Practice, the Firm's largest and fastest growing enterprise with 30 full-time client service professionals serving 260 healthcare clients across Western, Central and Upstate New York. Freed Maxick provides comprehensive assurance and advisory related services to the healthcare provider industry, including large multi-state integrated healthcare delivery systems, free-standing acute care hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, assisted living facilities, home healthcare agencies, physician practices, senior housing facilities, mental health clinics and hospice.

Ms. Hamel has over 25 years of experience in the healthcare industry, which includes five years as a Manager for the Pricewaterhouse Healthcare Regulatory Group for the northeast market. In this capacity, Carol worked on revenue projections, third party reimbursement analysis, cost report preparation, audit support and appeals. Prior to joining Freed Maxick, Carol had her own firm, providing healthcare consulting services to hospitals and nursing homes primarily in New York State. Ms. Hamel holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from St. Bonaventure University, and a Masters of Education from Lemoyne College.

Ms. Nettina has over 17 years experience in the healthcare industry with expertise in financial modeling and analysis and third party payment reimbursement issues. Prior to joining Freed Maxick, she worked in the Health Science Advisory Services practice of Ernst & Young. She is a graduate of Canisius College.

"Carol and Colleen bring a wealth of experience to our established healthcare practice," said Lloyd Arakelian, CPA, FHFMA, a Director with Freed Maxick's Healthcare Consulting practice. "Their proven skills will further differentiate us in the marketplace as Upstate New York's leader in healthcare assurance and consulting services. They will further enable our firm to add outstanding value to our clients."

Freed Maxick's Healthcare Practice is augmented by the national firm RSM McGladrey, the 5th largest professional services firm in the US. With US revenues of over $1.4B, RSM McGladrey has 135 offices and over 8,000 employees in the US. The healthcare practices of Freed Maxick and RSM McGladrey combined have over 175 professionals dedicated nationally to providing healthcare related assurance, consulting and tax services to over 150 hospitals and hundreds of other healthcare organizations.

About Freed Maxick & Battaglia, CPAs

Freed Maxick & Battaglia, CPAs is the largest public accounting firm in Western New York and a Top 100 Firm in the U.S. Freed Maxick & Battaglia has 260 employees and operates an alternative practice structure with RSM McGladrey, the nation's 5th largest accounting & consulting firm. Freed Maxick has offices in Buffalo, Batavia and Rochester, NY. Visit www.freedmaxick.com .

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