HPM Corp., the Kennewick, Wash.,-based company with a $152-million Department of Energy contract to provide employee medical services at the Hanford Site in Washington state is being sold to California-based WorkCare, the parties confirmed Wednesday.
The Tri-City Herald newspaper reported Tuesday HPM Corp., longtime holder of the Hanford Occupational Medical Contract, is being sold to WorkCare, based in Anaheim, Calif.
After initially declining comment through a WorkCare spokesperson, the parties and DOE confirmed the sale effective April 1, via a WorkCare press release. The release did not disclose a sales price.
“We’re excited to welcome HPMC and its team of proven experts to the WorkCare family of companies,” said Bill Nixon, WorkCare’s president and chief executive officer. “Given our experience in occupational medicine and our company origins, WorkCare is exceptionally well-prepared to support continued delivery of essential medical surveillance and other clinical services to protect and promote employee health at the site.”
HPM Corp. has provided occupational medical-related safety services to more than 8,000 workers at the DOE site since 2012, according to the release. HPM has locations in Richland, Wash., and the 200-West Area of the Hanford Site.
Two representatives of Workcare are listed on a registration list for an ongoing solicitation for a new Hanford Occupational Medical services contract.
The DOE procurement office has given interested bidders until April 24 to file proposals for the follow-on contract for on-site medical services at Hanford. A new healthcare contract for the site would also cover staffers at the new waste vitrification plant being built by Bechtel.
In March 2022, HPM paid about $3 million in fines and restitution to the federal government after top executives made false financial statements to qualify for a COVID-19 loan program run through the Small Business Administration. The pandemic-related loan was eventually forgiven.
The HPM executives associated with the case are no longer affiliated with the company, HPM President Laurie Miller said by phone Wednesday.
The WorkCare website describes the company mission as “protecting and promoting employee health… from hire to retire.” Among the services listed by the WorkCare website are “providing care guidance at the onset of work-related injuries and discomfort” and “being present 24/7 via consultation, onsite operations and telehealth applications.”