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Kaiser fined for the second time in one year

Patient Financial Services Weekly Advisor, July 27, 2007

Kaiser Permanente, the largest HMO in California, was fined $3 million on accounts of contestable patient care and physician performance, according to a June 26 story in the Los Angeles Times. This is the second time in one year that Kaiser has been publicly accused for less than acceptable practices.

The investigation came amidst the closure of Kaiser's kidney transplant center in San Francisco where hundreds of patients were forced to transfer to substandard facilities.

The main accusation aimed at the HMO claimed that failed to adequately follow up on its cases. The hospital did not properly use the system of peer review or thoroughly follow up on cases completely, putting the patients in potential harm.

The investigation found that Kaiser "lacked the ability to verify consistent handling of complaints throughout its medical centers or to determine whether serious or chronic problems were being addressed."

To read the full LA Times article, click here.

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