Lawsuits: Kaiser Mental Health Care Crisis

Futterman et al. v. Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc.

Patients and families who have suffered harm as a result of Kaiser Permanente’s systemic denial of timely access to mental health services have joined in a class-action lawsuit against the HMO. For more information, contact Siegel, LeWitter, Malkani at sl-employmentlaw.com or (510) 452-5000.

October 24, 2013
Press release
Patients file class-action lawsuit against Kaiser Permanente for systemic denial of timely access to mental health services (PDF)

October 16, 2013
The lawsuit
First Amended Complaint for Damages, Injunctive Relief and Declaratory Relief, Futterman et al. v. Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc.” (PDF)

September 9, 2014
The lawsuit
Kerr vs. Kaiser, Los Angeles Superior Court (PDF)

October 9, 2015
The lawsuit
S.F. vs. Kaiser, Los Angeles Superior Court (PDF)

 

 

NUHW et al. v. Covered California

NUHW and five other plaintiffs, including Kaiser members and employees, filed a lawsuit against Covered California, the state’s health benefit exchange under the Affordable Care Act, for violating its own rules and standards by allowing Kaiser Permanente to participate in the exchange despite the fact that it is not in good standing with regulators, having committed serious violations of state law within the preceding twelve months. Before Kaiser is allowed to enroll thousands more patients through the exchange, it should first demonstrate that it can take care of the patients who already rely on Kaiser for their health care.

Kaiser’s mental health care services were the subject of a fifteen-month investigation by California’s Department of Managed Health Care, which found Kaiser guilty of “serious” and “systemic” violations of state health care laws. The DMHC issued a cease-and-desist order against Kaiser and levied a $4 million fine — the second largest in the agency’s history — against the HMO.

September 10, 2013
Press release
NUHW Sues California’s “Obamacare” Exchange to Protect Patients from Kaiser Permanente’s Substandard Care

October 5, 2013
Becker’s Hospital Review
California Insurance Exchange Sued for Including Kaiser Permanente

October 5, 2013
Law360
Calif. Exchange Sued Over Kaiser Inclusion Amid $4M Fine

October 5, 2013
Sacramento Bee
Union seeks to block Kaiser from health benefit exchange