Assembly Health Committee staffer Kristene Mapile joined Connecting for Better Health at our December 2022 meeting to discuss the policy evolution and future of AB 133, key legislation that requires specific entities to exchange health information in real time by January 31, 2024.
“Up until a couple years ago, we weren’t really focused on health information,” she said, adding that a lack of adequate information during the pandemic laid bare the need for health data sharing in California.
As a result, Assembly Health Committee chair Dr. Jim Wood sponsored legislation and informational hearings were held as precursors to AB 133. The earlier legislation was held up; however, the legislature included the developments of the California Health and Human Services (CalHHS) Data Exchange Framework (DxF) in a budget trailer bill in August 2021.
“Ultimately, we are very supportive of the goals of the administration,” said Mapile “There’s still work to do but we’re really excited for these baby steps.”
Mapile added that more needs to be done in several areas, including enforcement of the Data Sharing Agreement (DSA) and in allocating funds in the budget for data sharing.
She encouraged Connecting for Better Health and its stakeholders to help educate incoming lawmakers and new members of the legislative health committees about data sharing efforts. The coalition urged that legislators work to bring social services into the fold on data sharing.
C4BH announces selection in DxF grant program
Also during the December meeting, Connecting for Better Health announced that it has been selected as part of a multi-association initiative for the CalHHS DxF grant program.
CalHHS announced eight recipients, including a multi-association group that includes Connecting for Better Health, to help health and human services providers and other healthcare entities understand and implement the DxF requirements.
The multi-association initiative will be led by America’s Physician Groups and includes Connecting for Better Health, California Academy of Family Physicians, Purchaser Business Group on Health-California Quality Collaborative, California Association of Health Care Facilities, California Association on Area Agencies on Aging, and California Association of Health Information Exchanges.
The grant program will provide information in the coming year, including conferences, webinars, a speakers’ bureau, and other educational opportunities from grantees. Connecting for Better Health will organize office hours, workshops, working groups, webinars, and group sponsorships.
Other grantees include California Medical Association, California Primary Care Association,
County Health Executives Association of California, California Association of Health Plans,
California Council of Community Behavioral Health Agencies, the American Academy of Pediatrics (California Chapter 1), and LeadingAge California Foundation.
