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Nationally Recognized Healthcare Expert Stuart H. Levine, M.D. Joins Prospect Medical Holdings As Chief Medical Officer

Posted on: Tuesday, 5 September 2006, 09:01 CDT

Prospect Medical Holdings, Inc. (AMEX: PZZ) ("Prospect Medical"), which manages the medical care of approximately 175,000 HMO enrollees in Southern California, today announced the appointment of Stuart H. Levine, M.D., M.H.A. to the position of Chief Medical Officer. A nationally recognized expert in managed care, with significant emphasis on Medicare, Dr. Levine brings to Prospect Medical more than 30 years of experience as a practicing physician and highly regarded health care executive.

Dr. Levine, 53, joins Prospect Medical from SCAN Health Plan, a Medicare Advantage HMO serving more than 90,000 seniors in Southern California, where he was Medical Director since 1998. During his tenure at SCAN, Dr. Levine was involved in all aspects of health plan administration, including network management and provider services, medical staff committees, geriatric health management, informatics, benefit design, continuing medical education, and strategic planning and expansion. He successfully implemented a variety of innovative programs aimed at efficiently and cost-effectively managing the health of seniors.

Catherine Dickson, President and Chief Operating Officer of Prospect Medical, and Chief Executive Officer of Prospect Medical Systems, commented, "We are excited about the unique combination of clinical experience and managed care expertise that Dr. Levine brings to our growing organization. He shares our belief that successful companies grow by building and maintaining constructive, long-term provider relationships focused on enhancing patient experiences and supporting their well-being. Dr. Levine's track record of success in the senior market is especially noteworthy, given the significant emphasis and resources we are devoting to this key market."

Dr. Levine will focus on a number of initiatives at Prospect Medical, including developing Medicare programs that allow seniors to remain independent and avoid nursing home care, expanding Prospect Medical's hospitalist and physician pay-for-performance programs, and designing physician education curricula that promote partnering with Prospect Medical to maximize member retention and growth.

Dr. Jack Terner, Prospect Medical's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "I am pleased to welcome Dr. Levine to Prospect Medical. We believe that his experience, ideas, and industry relationships will serve Prospect Medical well, in both the commercial and senior market portions of our business."

Dr. Levine stated, "I am excited about the opportunity to join this growing and highly respected healthcare company. Prospect Medical's patient-centric healthcare delivery model is a primary driver of the Company's growth into one of Southern California's leading IPAs. I am confident that, working with the highly talented Prospect Medical team, we can further leverage this impressive operating and financial infrastructure, continue to improve operating metrics, and deliver the highest level of patient care."

Dr. Levine received a Masters of Health Care Administration from George Washington University, and his M.D. from the University of Illinois at Chicago, where he was a James Scholar. In addition to internships in internal medicine and pediatrics, Dr. Levine served as chief resident at UCLA School of Medicine, Neuropsychiatric Institute, Department of Psychiatry. During his career, Dr. Levine has conducted and participated in studies and published on various topics, including psychiatric treatments, common health issues in the senior population, and pain management--often examining these issues in the managed care setting. Dr. Levine is author or co-author of 48 scientific papers, and is the recipient of more than 13 grants. Dr. Levine is Assistant Clinical Professor/Internal Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles, David Geffen School of Medicine, and Director of Behavioral Health for the Primary Care Internal Medicine Residency Program at St. Mary's - UCLA Medical Center. He has received numerous honors, including a Mead Johnson fellowship in community psychiatry from the American Psychiatric Association, a Burroughs Wellcome fellowship in community medicine from the American Medical Association, and the California Medical Association 2005 Continuing Medical Education Award.

ABOUT THE COMPANY

Prospect Medical Holdings manages the medical care of individuals enrolled in HMO plans in Southern California. The Company, through its Independent Physician Associations ("IPAs"), contracts with health care professionals to provide a full range of services to HMO enrollees. Prospect does not acquire bricks and mortar, but rather the medical management of the lives serviced by the acquired IPAs. Services provided by Prospect include contract negotiations, physician recruiting and credentialing, HR, claims administration, financial services, provider relations, case management, quality assurance, data collection and MIS. Prospect's 11 affiliated IPAs at June 30, 2006 were comprised of approximately 9,000 primary care and specialist physicians serving approximately 175,000 HMO members.

This press release contains forward-looking statements. Additional written or oral forward-looking statements may be made by the Company from time to time, in filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or otherwise. Statements contained herein that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements, including the statements regarding anticipated or expected results, and the future introduction of new products, involve risks and uncertainties which may affect the Company's business and prospects, including those outlined in the Company's Form 10-K filed on December 27, 2005 and in the Form 10-Q filed on August 14, 2006. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release represent our estimates only as of the date hereof, or as of such earlier dates as are indicated, and should not be relied upon as representing our estimates as of any subsequent date. While we may elect to update forward-looking statements at some point in the future, we specifically disclaim any obligation to do so, even if our estimates change.

Source: Business Wire

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