Merger Could Create Occupational Health Giant

In what could create one of the largest independent occupational healthcare providers in the U.S., Agile Occupational Medicine is merging with Akeso Occupational Health.
The firms are respectively owned by private equity firms Angeles Equity and Kain Capital.
The merger gives the combined company significant heft across California, with opportunities to expand its reach both there and in other states, according to a Wall Street Journal report.
Agile’s 2023 revenue topped $39 million in 2023 and Akeso generated just above $30 million in revenue during last year’s first nine months, WSJ reported, citing California records show.
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Delaware now allows workers’ compensation payments to be made by direct deposit, one of several process changes signed into law earlier this month by Gov. Matt Meyer.
The Office of Workers’ Compensation increased the reimbursement percentage of activities from 66.6% to 100%.
That ensures that the inspection and safety functions of the Division of Industrial Affairs are fully covered, as they are currently partially covered. Insurance carriers pay the assessment.
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Gov. JB Pritzker has appointed Frank Soto to the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission, in addition to several appointments and re-appointments of nine arbitrators to the panel.
Prior to his appointment as a Commission member, Soto was involved in the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission, including almost 10 years as an arbitrator and 21 years in private law practice.
Jacqueline Haralelli, Dennis O’Brien, Efi Poziopoulos James, Elaine Llerena, Kurt Carlson, Roma Dalal, William Gallagher, Edward Lee, will continue to serve as arbitrators on the WCC.
New arbitrator appointee Khama Sharp most recently served as Assistant Director of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.
All appointments are pending confirmation by the Illinois State Senate.
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Hanover Insurance has launched a program for new workers’ compensation policyholders and the majority of renewals with premiums over $100,000, offering them access to expanded benefits, including a dedicated claims liaison and access to a self-service claims portal, previously offered exclusively to larger accounts.
Its Hanover Claims Manager portal enables policyholders to manage claims more efficiently and offer flexible search, filter and view options, and the ability to flag key claims for tracking.
“With our enhanced onboarding program, our workers’ compensation customers will receive more personalized support from our dedicated Risk Solutions consultants, helping them to identify opportunities to improve worker safety, access industry-specific trainings and implement tools like wearable sensors,” said Christina S. Villena, vice president, Risk Solutions and premium audit at The Hanover, in the company’s July 9 announcement.
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The Ontario Compensation Employees Union has reached a tentative agreement with the province’s Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB), ending a six-week strike by more than 3,000 workers.
Details of the settlement were not included in the union’s July 5 statement. It promised to reveal the details once the rank-and-file ratified the vote, which they did on July 7.
The WSIB provides workplace injury and illness insurance to more than 5.3 million people in more than 300,000 Ontario workplaces, according to the board’s statement.
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