Improving data sharing in California requires continuous adaptation to meet the current and evolving needs of health and social services stakeholders. At our November 14, 2024 Connecting for Better Health coalition meeting, we welcomed the Center for Data Insights and Innovation (CDII) and the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) to share important updates on the Data Exchange Framework (DxF) and consent management activities.
CDII Updates: Draft DxF Roadmap and Roster Sharing Inquiry
John Ohanian, Chief Data Officer at CDII, and Robert Cothren, consultant at CDII, joined C4BH to present on the draft three-year DxF Roadmap (2025-2027) for the DxF and the Request for Information (RFI) for a Centralized Roster Service, both recently released to the public. The DxF Draft Roadmap is a blueprint for advancing data interoperability and collaboration across California’s health and social services organizations. The roadmap outlines six foundational pillars for successful DxF implementation:
- Event Notifications: Communicating real-time information exchange for significant events.
- Social Services Data: Ensuring seamless integration of social services data with health data to better care coordination.
- Consent and Identity Management: Developing a statewide consent and digital identity management framework that properly manages patient consent.
- Public Health Data: Strengthening infrastructure to enhance public health insights.
- Impact Measurement: Tracking the impact of the DxF on data exchange, health and social service care delivery, and health outcomes to refine approaches and demonstrate value.
- Participant Engagement: Continuing to increase the DxF Data Sharing Agreement (DSA) monitoring infrastructure to engage mandatory and voluntary signatories to comply with the DxF.
C4BH supports the clear and defined goals outlined in the roadmap as key to advancing data sharing in California and tracking progress in DxF implementation. Public comments are invited until December 9th at 8am PT.
In addition, CDII presented the RFI for a centralized roster service to gather public input on designing a process to manage rosters statewide. Based on stakeholder feedback detailing the administrative burden from roster sharing, CDII is researching the potential and viability of a central roster service in California. By standardizing how organizations can request and send information, such as an Admit, Discharge, and Transfer (ADT) notification, a centralized roster will aim to benefit all organizations and streamline data exchange. Stakeholders are encouraged to respond to the RFI by December 20th. Access the RFI Here.
California Statewide Consent Management Updates
Included in the DxF Roadmap is a pillar focused on Consent Management, key to successful DxF implementation. Dr. Linette Scott, Chief Medical Information Officer at DHCS, provided key updates on the Authorization to Share California Member Information (ASCMI) pilot that was completed in 2023. The pilot was a state-led effort to standardize consent management across California’s health and social service organizations as part of the California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM) initiative. Dr. Scott outlined how the technical implementation of consent for the ASCMI pilot – focusing on education, outreach, training, and technical readiness – had been manageable in comparison to the difficulty of building trust and awareness, which remains at the forefront of consent management. DHCS is considering expanding use cases for ASCMI, focusing on priority areas such as behavioral health, housing, justice-involvement, and school-based programs. Stakeholders should anticipate further guidance and toolkits designed to address emerging needs.
Dr. Scott also touched on progress on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Interoperability and Patient Access Final Rule of 2020. In alignment with federal rule, DHCS is aiming to have the following APIs operational by June 2025: Provider access API, Provider directory API, and the Drug formulary API. By January 2027, the following APIs will be implemented to advance payer-to-payer exchange related to prior authorization: Payer-to-payer API, Provider access API, and the Prior authorization API.
Conclusion
Consent remains a cornerstone of effective data sharing, built on continued trust and collaboration.The updates from CDII and DHCS highlight the ongoing transformation of California’s data exchange landscape and reflect California’s commitment to advancing health equity and interoperability. C4BH believes identity management is crucial for the success of data sharing in California, and continues to advocate for statewide consent management so individuals know when and how their information is being shared. C4BH will continue to monitor state updates from CDII and DHCS and we encourage stakeholders to provide feedback and stay informed on forthcoming developments.
