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Kaiser says it meets state access standards; clinicians and patients tell supervisors delays for ongoing therapy remain months-long
Summary
At an Oct. 21 Board of Supervisors hearing, Kaiser Permanente told the committee it meets Department of Managed Health Care timelines for initial mental-health appointments, but Kaiser clinicians and patients testified that clinically indicated follow-up therapy is often delayed for weeks or months, and committee members asked plans for membership-level metrics and improved reporting.
San Francisco supervisors pressed Kaiser Permanente and the city's health-plan purchaser on Oct. 21 over reports that patients face long waits for ongoing mental-health care despite plans meeting state standards for initial appointments.
Abby Yant, executive director of the San Francisco Health Service System, said purchasers lack standardized, member-specific metrics from plans: state and industry reporting is often "book of business" data that does not show access for the city's covered population. She said the city is working with its plans to define a measurement plan focused on member outcomes and access.
Kaiser executives told the committee they have invested aggressively in hiring and telehealth and reported compliance with DMHC timing standards for first appointments. Dr. Maria Koshy, chair of Northern California psychiatry chiefs, said Kaiser meets California's regulatory standard for initial appointments…
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