health
‘Thank God they’re still alive’: Kaiser therapists claim its new screening system puts patients at higher risk by delaying their care
Kaiser pushed back on striking workers’ claims and AI fears, saying it delivers ‘timely, high-quality care to meet members’ needs’
TL;DR
- Kaiser Permanente mental health professionals are striking over new patient screening processes implemented in January 2024.
- Therapists claim the new system, which uses clerical workers and e-visits for initial assessments, delays care for high-risk patients and misdirects lower-risk patients.
- Concerns are high that Kaiser plans to use AI to replace licensed therapists for certain tasks, despite company denials.
- The National Union of Health Care Workers (NUHW) filed administrative complaints against Kaiser in northern and southern California, alleging illegal screening systems and negative care outcomes.
- An internal survey showed over one-third of Kaiser mental health workers fear AI negatively impacts their work or patient care, with almost half uncomfortable with AI tools.
- Kaiser states that AI and clerical staff are not conducting assessments or clinical triage, and that clerical staff are trained to escalate cases to clinical staff.
- Kaiser has previously faced settlements totaling over $200 million with California and $31 million with the US Department of Labor for delays in providing mental health services.