FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 14, 2021
Contact: Nick Day | (612) 396-2908 | nick@50p1.com
Connecting for Better Health Coalition Issues Statement on Governor Newsom’s Revised California State Budget
On Friday, the Connecting for Better Health Coalition, an array of industry and nonprofit leaders, healthcare advocates, and workers, released a statement about Governor Newsom’s revised 2021-22 budget for California:
“We are disappointed to see that Governor Newsom’s 2021-22 Revised Budget does not include funding for the development of a statewide health information exchange network for all consumers in California, which would expedite the development of meaningful health data exchange.
The need for improved health data sharing has never been more urgent. Throughout the pandemic, California has struggled to track COVID-19 infection rates, hospital bed availability, and access to testing in communities across the state. Beyond COVID-19, California patients are still saddled with the responsibility of maintaining their own complicated health records. We can and must do better.
Especially given California’s budget surplus and unprecedented federal relief through the American Rescue Plan, it’s critical we make this long overdue investment. Our coalition of workers, providers, industry leaders, and patients is more energized than ever to continue to work with lawmakers in Sacramento. We will continue our unified efforts to establish a comprehensive strategy that meets our coalition’s fundamental principles of a statewide approach that leverages existing data sharing infrastructure, takes advantage of available federal funding, and requires universal participation among providers and health plans.
We know that prioritizing the creation of a statewide HIE network is essential for the health and well-being of all Californians and we will continue to seek its inclusion in this year’s budget.”
The Connecting for Better Health Coalition is a partnership of diverse healthcare leaders across California. The coalition’s website, www.connectingforbetterhealth.com, features testimonial videos from patients about the need for a statewide HIE network, as well as information about the coalition’s policy vision and participants.
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