SB 371

Bill Subjects

Abstract

Existing law establishes the California Health and Human Services Agency (CHHSA) , which includes departments charged with the administration of health, social, and other human services. Existing law authorizes CHHSA to apply for federal health information technology and exchange funding. If CHHSA applies for and receives that funding through the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, existing law requires those funds to be deposited in the California Health Information Technology and Exchange Fund for use, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for purposes related to health information technology and exchange. This bill would require any federal funds CHHSA receives for health information technology and exchange to be deposited in the California Health Information Technology and Exchange Fund. The bill would authorize CHHSA to use the fund to provide grants to health care providers to implement or expand health information technology and to contract for direct data exchange technical assistance for safety net providers. The bill would require a health information organization to be connected to the California Trusted Exchange Network and to a qualified national network. The bill would also require a health care provider, health system, health care service plan, or health insurer that engages in health information exchange to comply with specified federal standards. This bill would create the position of Deputy Secretary for Health Information Technology within CHHSA to serve as a single point of contact for health information technology programs that interact with the state government and to coordinate with specified federal agencies. The bill would require the deputy secretary to establish and appoint specified members to the California Health Information Technology Advisory Committee, which would provide information and advice to CHHSA on health information technology issues. On or before July 1, 2022, the bill would require the deputy secretary, in consultation with the advisory committee, to develop a plan to use federal funding to promote data exchange. The bill would also require the deputy secretary, in consultation with the advisory committee, to annually submit a report to the Legislature and the Secretary of California Health and Human Services. Existing law provides for the Medi-Cal program, administered by the State Department of Health Care Services and under which qualified low-income individuals receive health care services. The Medi-Cal program is, in part, governed and funded by federal Medicaid program provisions. Existing law requires the department to make incentive payments to Medi-Cal providers for the implementation and use of electronic health record systems. This bill would require the department to apply for federal funding made available through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act of 2020, American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, or the Medicaid Information Technology Architecture program. The bill would authorize specific uses for any funding received, including creating a unified state health information exchange gateway to improve the bidirectional exchange of data between state sources and health care providers.