A TPA processes insurance claims for separate entities without underwriting or assuming the risks of the businesses they represent. Oftentimes companies or institutions that are selfinsured will contract a TPA with risk management expertise to provide claims adjusting and related services for them, such as loss control and various forms of cost containment, to facilitate lowering their insurance costs.
BKI, co-owned by Ron Brandvold and Mary Ku, is known for the strong, longstanding relationships it has built with its clients over the past 25-plus years. Those relationships will continue following the merger, said Steve Tabussi, FICOH Vice President.
“The joining of our two TPA businesses will safely transition the client relationships BKI and its staff have worked hard to develop,” he said. “Ron Brandvold will be retained as a FICOH consultant while fellow BKI co-owner Mary Ku will join FICOH’s TPA unit as a supervisor.”
Additionally, six BKI staff members will join FICOH’s TPA unit to maintain the client relationships they have helped build. FICOH Assistant Vice President Janice Fukuda will continue to lead the TPA unit, which will roughly double in size when the staff members from BKI join FICOH on September 3rd.
“FICOH is proud to offer TPA services backed by the bench strength, products, services and wide range of expertise of a full service carrier,” said Tabussi. “As we move forward, we will be positioning our TPA services in the market by giving the business unit its own name: FiRMS Claims Services.”