Kaiser fined $49 million for illegal dumping of medical records and waste in California

Kaiser Permanente has agreed to pay $49 million to settle a lawsuit with the state of California and multiple counties over allegations of illegally dumping hazardous waste and mishandling private patient information. Undercover inspections revealed dumpsters containing thousands of paper medical records and hazardous materials, including blood-filled syringes and human body parts. The settlement requires Kaiser to retain an independent auditor to ensure compliance with waste disposal and patient information protection laws. This is not the first time Kaiser has faced legal issues, as the company has previously been sued for Medicare fraud and mishandling employee records.