Kaiser Settles Doctor’s Suit Over Drug Policy

Kaiser Permanente has reached a settlement with the psychiatrist who blew the whistle on the giant HMO’s practice of requiring doctors to prescribe antidepressant drugs for patients whom they had not examined. Dr. Thomas S. Jensen of San Diego sued Kaiser after the managed-care company fired him for refusing to go along with its practice of having social workers, nurses and interns evaluate mental health patients, rather than psychiatrists. After Jensen sued and The Times reported the story, Kaiser eliminated the practice. “We believe we responded appropriately and thoughtfully and effectively to the issues that were raised by Dr. Jensen, and we wish him well on his future endeavors,” Kaiser spokesman Jim Anderson said. The settlement included a detailed policy requiring physicians to examine patients before prescribing drugs and an undisclosed monetary reward, according to Jensen’s lawyer, Cliff Palefsky.