Business briefs
Advertiser Staff
HMA to handle union claims
Arizona-based HMA Inc. will take over the contract to process the health insurance claims for the 18,000-member AFL-CIO Hotel and Restaurant Workers Health and Welfare Trust Fund on Jan. 1.
It is the first contract in Hawai'i for HMA, which plans to create a Preferred Provider Organization called Health Management Network to deliver health care services to plan members.
"To the greatest extent possible, we will staff the new service center with local talent," Mark Dyer, HMA's president and chief executive officer, said in a statement.
Struggling University Health Alliance had been servicing the hotel union's trust fund. But the insurer entered a supervisory agreement with state insurance regulators earlier this year after if fell $2.3 million short of the financial reserve level required by the state. A court-appointed officer has been overseeing the company's operations since then while the state sought a buyer.
HMA said it expects to contract for another an additional 14,000 members soon, but did not release the details.
Second Gyotaku slated to open
Yamada Restaurant Hawaii #2 Inc. said yesterday it has sold Suehiro Restaurant and Catering for an undisclosed price.
Suehiro will cease operation Dec. 29. The King Street restaurant will reopen Jan. 2, under the ownership of REI Food Service LLC, as Gyotaku Japanese Restaurant.
Tom Jones, president of REI Food Service, said all 30 to 40 employees of Suehiro are invited to submit applications and interview with REI management. Jones said he does not have another staff ready to operate the new restaurant and hopes to keep many of the same employees.
The restaurant will become the second Gyotaku Japanese Restaurant after minor remodeling, cleaning and adjustments to the kitchen to suit the "sushi-intensive menu," said Jones. REI acquired the Pearl City Gyotaku from Kyotaru Hawaii in August.
Yamada Group plans to refocus on its core business of commercial real estate, said Yamada Group president Toru Yamada.
Jones is the former general manager of Kyotaru Hawaii, which operated the Columbia Inn. He said REI Food Service is on track to grow as a new restaurant company with multiple units.
