Kaiser Mental Health Staff Union Alleges AI Algorithm Is Being Used To Screen Members Seeking Treatment

The National Union of Healthcare Workers (NUHW), which represents mental health professionals employed by Kaiser Permanente, has asked state and federal regulators to investigate allegations that Kaiser is using an automated screening tool to recommend levels of mental health care for members seeking treatment for anxiety or depression.

In a letter sent to the California Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC) and the U.S. Department of Labor, NUHW raised concerns about a tool called E-Visit, which Kaiser rolled out across its Northern California region in 2023. The union alleges that the tool uses an artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm . . .