I have created this web site to facilitate communications between mental health consumers insured by Kaiser Permanente so that we can work together to improve our mental health care.  Another purpose of this web site is to inform you of your patient's bill of rights under Hawaii Revised Statute and the federal laws. If you find your patient's bill of rights have been violated, you have a right to appeal.

I am a mental health consumer insured by Kaiser Permanente in Hawaii and have been in a very frustrating situation with Kaiser regarding my mental health care. Here on the Big Island, Kaiser Permanente has only 2 part-time psychiatrists for all of the 3 clinics and 2 social workers on the entire island. When I wrote letters of concerns/complaints to Kaiser, either their response was very slow and not answering my questions at all or they did not respond. Kaiser told me wrongful information about my coverage and though this was clearly illegal, nothing has been done to compensate or resolve the situation.

I have contacted Hawaii Disability Rights Center, Hawaii Mental Health Association, Consumer Advocate at State Adult Mental Health Division, United Self-Help (which I am a member of)... and what I heard repeatedly was that they have received numerous complaints against Kaiser's mental health care.  I also filed a complaint against Kaiser to Better Business Bureau, and am planning to file a complaint to Hawaii State RICO (Regulated Industries Complaints office)  as well. However, I know nothing will be changed dramatically through these offices... Hawaii State Commissioner's Insurance Office also did not stand for consumers and did nothing for me. They are for insurance companies. 

Therefore, I decided to stand up for myself and gather more information from fellow mental health consumers to advocate for myself and you. Please, please send me your opinions, grievances, complaints, issues with Kaiser 's mental health care in Hawaii (information on outside the Kaiser system is also welcomed).  Your information is GREATLY APPRECIATED and all the information received will be strictly confidential. Please share your opinions about your mental health care under Kaiser so that we can help us and others to improve our care.  You can email me at improvehealthcare@yahoo.com or call me at 808-328-8513.

I am not an attorney, am just a  mental health consumer like you, but if we all work together, maybe we can change mental health care situation here in Hawaii.  I cannot represent you legally, but I will keep writing letters & voicing our opinions/complaints to the various organizations, the State, the Federal Government, and other possible effective places until changes are made. Of course, I will keep writing to Dr. Marv Mathews, Chief of Behavioral Health Services at Kaiser like I did in Feb. 2003 (to read my story, go to My Story (coming soon)). Never give up!   

Hope to hear from all of you....   

Malaho, K.H.

P.S. Please tell your fellow consumers about this website.

CONTACT

email: improvehealthcare@yahoo.com

phone & fax: 808-328-8513

website: http://improvehealthcare.netfirms.com

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