Kaiser Permanente Enters Settlement Agreement To Address California Mental Health Access Violations

On October 12, 2023, the California Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC) entered a settlement agreement with Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc. (Kaiser Permanente) that will result in significant changes to the plan’s delivery of behavioral health care services to correct violations and deficiencies in how the plan provides behavioral health care services to members. The agreement imposes a $50 million fine, and Kaiser Permanente pledged to make additional significant investments totaling $150 million over five years to correct deficiencies in the plan’s delivery and oversight of behavioral health care for enrollees.

As part of the settlement agreement . . .