Health-care finance company to employ 95 at center in Reno

Centric Health Finance, a California company, will open an operations center in Reno that will employ about 95 people.

The company based at La Jolla said the Reno office will include a call center,medical reimbursement support, financial services and information technology management.

In an application for state development incentives, Centric said pay will average $24.55 an hour for its Reno employees.

The company said it will invest $5.5 million in the new office.

The state's Commission on Economic Development last week approved a package of tax breaks sought by the company.

Centric Health Finance provides businessprocess management and specialty financial services for biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies.

It also serves specialty physicians such as oncologists and ophthalmologists.

"Our plan calls for aggressive growth and a larger footprint in Reno as we grow our business," said Stephen B.White, the company's executive vice president and general counsel.

Pete Winkenbach, executive vice president of operations, and Keith Carbine, vice president of manufacturer and channel programs, will oversee Centric's operation in Reno.