Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Washington Settlement Website

The parties ("Parties") to this Settlement Agreement ("Agreement") are the United States of America ("'United States") and Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Washington ("KFHPW"). KFHPW is an integrated managed care system, headquartered in Seattle, Washington. It operates 41 medical facilities in Northwest Washington, Central Washington, Eastern Washington, the Coastal and Olympic region, and Puget Sound. The United States Attorney's Office for the Western District of Washington (“U.S. Attorney’s Office”) opened an investigation after receiving complaints of potential ADA violations by KFHPW (or its predecessor Group Health Cooperative). KFHPW fully cooperated with the United States’ investigation in this matter.

In the course of the investigation, the United States determined that between May 15, 2014, and March 31, 2018, KFHPW or its predecessor organization failed to fill certain requests for sign language interpreters where the use of an interpreter was necessary for effective communication, causing patients to reschedule appointments, delay receiving medical care, or proceed without the assistance of an interpreter, often relying upon less effective means of communication. On the basis of these determinations, the United States concluded that KFHPW violated ADA, 42 U.S.C. § 12182(b)(2)(A)(iii) and 28 C.F.R. § 36.303. To resolve this issue, the Parties voluntarily agreed to enter into a Settlement Agreement to identify and compensate aggrieved Eligible Persons, who may receive a payment as compensation.

You are a Potential Eligible Person if you receive a Notice of Agreement and Claim Form by mail or email from the Settlement Claims Administrator.