Kaiser's Mental Health Care Disparity: A Two-Tiered System

In a striking display of intransigence, Kaiser Permanente has refused to extend Northern California's mental health care provisions to Southern California, creating a two-tiered system that leaves patients in the South struggling for access to care. The National Union of Healthcare Workers (NUHW) has been on strike since October, seeking to address entrenched disparities that have left Kaiser patients struggling to access clinically appropriate care.

Kaiser Permanente's chief negotiator told workers during a bargaining session that he was unaware of Gov. Gavin Newsom's written request asking both union workers and Kaiser management to enter "focused mediation" aimed at ending the strike. The union, however, immediately accepted the governor's request, highlighting the stark contrast between the two parties' willingness to engage in good-faith negotiations.

In response to the ongoing strike, Kaiser has been slow to address patient concerns and has even canceled psychotherapy groups for thousands of patients. The union has filed more than a dozen complaints with state and federal regulators documenting instances of delayed or denied mental health care, further exacerbating the crisis.

Kaiser Permanente's refusal to extend Northern California's mental health care provisions to Southern California has created a significant disparity in access to care for patients in the region. The union has been clear in its demands, seeking nothing more than what Kaiser already provides to its counterparts in the North. The lack of time for therapists to perform patient care tasks that cannot be done during therapy appointments has resulted in burnout, forcing therapists to leave Kaiser.

Kaiser Permanente's approach to mental health care in Southern California has raised concerns about the organization's commitment to providing high-quality, accessible care to all its patients. The ongoing strike and the resulting access issues have highlighted the need for Kaiser to address the mental health care disparity between Northern and Southern California.

NUHW reaffirms, amends Sanctuary Union resolution

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