OAKLAND, Calif. -- Two Bay Area residents filed a class-action lawsuit Wednesday against Kaiser Permanente, accusing the health maintenance organization of refusing to treat children with autism in order to save costs.
The suit, filed in Alameda County Superior Court, said Kaiser Foundation Health Plan has a legal duty to treat autistic children.
The plaintiffs are Lissa Anderson, 40, of Morgan Hill, whose 5-year-old son has autism, and Paul Santiago, 43, of Fremont, the father of a 10-year-old girl with autism. Kaiser told them they should pursue their children's issues with local school districts, the suit said.
Kaiser said it provides a "full range of health care" for autistic children. The suit "blurs" the distinction between health care and services that should be provided by schools and social service agencies, Kaiser said.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Parents sue Kaiser for coverage of their children with autism
From the San Francisco Chronicle:
