When unionized Kaiser Permanente mental health care workers in Northern California went on strike in 2022, the industry giant quickly moved to reassure its patients. They would receive the same level of care they’d always had, Kaiser officials said.
It didn’t happen. According to a document later filed by the state’s Department of Managed Health Care as part of a massive settlement and fine paid by Kaiser, more than 100,000 mental health care appointments were canceled by the company during the 10-week strike over working conditions and staffing. Cancelling the appointments was a direct violation of state law.
