To advance and enable effective health data exchange with fidelity, California needs to pass Assembly Bill 1331 (Wood) to support the full vision and purpose of the Data Exchange Framework (DxF). 

AB 1331 would further empower the Center for Data Insights (CDII) and Innovation to take over the establishment, implementation, and all functions related to the California Health and Human Services Agency (CalHHS) DxF. It would also support CDII in establishing the CalHHS Data Exchange Board to develop recommendations and to review, modify, and approve any changes to the framework’s data sharing agreement. 

While legislation enacted in 2021–AB 133–laid the foundation by establishing the vision and policies for data exchange in California, fully achieving the state’s data sharing vision necessitates further measures to support governance and accountability. The state has already invested millions of dollars and significant time to develop the DxF; however, without the support of ongoing governance and accountability measures, stakeholder adoption and participation may fall short, jeopardizing the realization of the DxF’s benefits.

AB 1331 is currently held on the Senate Appropriations Committee suspense file and will be revisited in August. C4BH is committed to highlighting its need and relevance.

AB 1331 is the Next Step for the DxF

The DxF defines and mandates data exchange between most health entities, including important measures such as Admission, Discharge, and Transfer (ADT) notifications from hospitals, EDs, and Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs). It also requires the exchange of social service information, making California the first state in the nation to facilitate true patient-centered, whole person care.

Health data exchange in California has improved since the DxF was implemented, but without complete compliance, providers and patients are still facing an inconsistent and uneven health information landscape. 

Patients enrolled in Medi-Cal and other public programs can also face frustrating enrollment processes that are confusing and burdensome. They often have to provide the same information multiple times, and despite this, may still not receive the services they need. This inefficiency marginalizes and disenfranchises them further. Patients also struggle to access their own information, making it difficult for them to advocate for their care, especially when moving or changing health plans, leading to serious delays in necessary treatments.

Contributing to this lagging adoption is the fact that health care organizations have historically been protective of their information, often due to HIPAA constraints. This protectionism has led to and continues to significantly delay information from reaching providers, which can delay care and result in patient harm or even death.

Despite technological advances and policy efforts put in place through DxF, critical information is not yet reaching the places where it is most needed to inform care decisions and support service delivery—in social services. This gap in information flow results in a health care system that is less efficient, less effective, and ultimately, less capable of delivering the high-quality, whole person care that patients deserve.

Improving Patient Care Through Ongoing Governance and Accountability

AB 1331 represents a crucial step in building trust in data exchange and health care systems. With more comprehensive governance in place, the DxF can effectively break down data silos and facilitate health and social data exchange throughout California. The support for further governance and accountability established by AB 1331 are critical for ensuring that the DxF operates efficiently and effectively, benefiting both providers and patients.

Patients and their care teams benefit immensely when health care is integrated and coordinated with social services. The essence of improving health data exchange is ensuring that the right data reaches the right places to support providers and help patients receive the care they need. It is vital that patients have their information shared seamlessly with their health care providers in order to receive comprehensive, timely, and effective care.

Momentum is building for the DxF, but this does not necessarily mean that all information is being shared effectively or that instances of information blocking are being addressed. California patients and providers deserve better, and we cannot be satisfied with the current status quo. By passing AB 1331, we can ensure a successful DxF that delivers on its promise of improved health data exchange, ultimately leading to better health outcomes for all Californians. Let’s see this through with AB 1331 for a truly integrated and effective health care and social services system.

For individual stories on how data sharing impacts patients and providers, visit our testimonials page.