Kaiser Faces Strike Over AI, Patient Screening Changes

Approximately 2,400 northern California mental health professionals, represented by the NUHW, went on a one-day strike on Wednesday. The protest targets changes in Kaiser Permanente's patient screening processes, citing fears that artificial intelligence (AI) will replace licensed therapists. Union representatives allege that since January 2024, a new screening system involving clerical workers and e-visits has led to longer wait times for high-risk patients, with over 70 negative care outcomes reported since January 2025.

Kaiser Permanente has countered these allegations, stating that AI and clerical staff are not conducting assessments or making clinical determinations. The company asserts that clerical staff are trained to escalate urgent cases to clinical staff. In contrast, union leaders believe the number of triage therapists has significantly decreased. An internal survey from last year revealed that over one-third of Kaiser's mental health workers in northern California fear that AI or other technologies could negatively impact their work and patient care, with nearly half expressing discomfort with AI integration.

Further complicating matters, the NUHW has filed administrative complaints with the California Department of Managed Health Care in both northern and southern California, alleging Kaiser's screening system is illegal. These complaints suggest an algorithm might be used to guide clerical staff in scheduling patients, a practice the union deems a violation of state law. Kaiser denies that its screening process constitutes triage. The healthcare giant has previously faced scrutiny and substantial settlements, including a $200 million settlement with California in 2023 and a $31 million settlement with the US Department of Labor in March 2026, over delays in providing mental health services.