"Union Accuses Kaiser of Neglecting Mental Health Care for Patients"
Originally Published 1 year ago — by Los Angeles Times
The National Union of Healthcare Workers has accused Kaiser Permanente of improperly terminating patients' access to mental health care by using "illegal criteria" and requiring "clinical care reviews," which the union alleges violates laws. Kaiser denies setting limits on therapy sessions and claims that decisions are made in consultation with patients based on clinical needs. The California Department of Managed Health Care is investigating these allegations under a recent settlement with Kaiser, which required the healthcare giant to pay a $50-million penalty and invest $150 million in improving mental healthcare.