Kaiser Hit With $4 Million Fine For Poor Access to Mental Health Care

SACRAMENTO, Calif.—Kaiser Foundation Health Plan June 25 was fined $4 million for limiting access to mental health care for its members, the second-largest fine ever levied by the California Department of Managed Health Care.

The DMHC announced four main deficiencies in March and turned the issue over to its enforcement division to deal with Kaiser, the largest provider of health care in California with nearly 7 million members (22 HLR 494, 3/28/13).

“The department’s actions are a result of both the seriousness of the deficiencies and the failure of Kaiser to promptly correct them,” DMHC Director Brent Barnhart ...