California is a very large state and boasts some of the top and largest health systems in the world. However, because of its size, the Golden State’s health information exchange ecosystem is often fragmented and sticky, with many regional HIEs serving providers in their neighborhoods.
In July 2021, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed bill AB 133 into law. It requires healthcare organizations across the state to link their data sharing capabilities. The act calls on healthcare stakeholders to define what a policy should look like, but mandates a real-time exchange of healthcare information, payments, and operations starting at year 2024.
Since then, healthcare leaders across California have been working diligently to make that happen – starting with a data-sharing agreement that will help govern the exchange of information between patients. hospitals, physician practices, health plans, skilled nursing facilities, psychiatric treatment centers, and more.
In other words, it is a big and important project.
Timi Leslie, founder of BluePath Health and leader at Connecting for Better Health – the partnership of public and private healthcare stakeholders that is helping to lead this massive effort – joined us I discuss the policy and technological challenges surrounding the statewide exchange and highlight the enormous benefits it can have for patients and public health preparedness.
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Communication skill:
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What does the current HIE landscape look like in California
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Why is it fragmented and how can these networks be linked?
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What Connecting for Better Health has achieved so far
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What challenges lie ahead on the road to 2024 compliance?
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What the pandemic has shown us about the need for a comprehensive HIE
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Why HIE is also important in emergencies like wildfires and earthquakes
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How the effort draws inspiration from other states’ HIE initiatives
More info about this episode:
HIMSSCast: Track current and future HIE status
California relies on multiple HIEs to connect the state
California HIE in refurbished mode
Connecting Los Angeles: LANES Drives Interoperability Across LA County
Santa Cruz Health Information Organization to integrate SDOH . data
Sequoia Project Releases Final QHIN App As It Moves To Live
Indiana Health Information Exchange is at the forefront
The important role HIE can play in value-based care
Twitter: @MikeMiliardHITN
Email the writer: [email protected]
Healthcare IT News is a HIMSS publication.
