The California Health and Human Services Agency (CalHHS) has awarded the first round of awards from the state’s new $50 million Data Exchange Framework (DxF) grant program.
California is establishing a Data Exchange Framework to improve how health information is shared across the health and social services systems. Among the goals are protecting public health, improving care delivery, and guiding policies aimed at caring for the whole person, while maintaining patient privacy, data security, and promoting equity.
The Framework includes a single data-sharing agreement and a common set of policies and procedures that will govern and require the exchange of health information among large healthcare entities and government agencies by Jan. 31, 2024. (Smaller provider organizations will have until 2026 to comply.)
Thirteen health and human service associations and partners are slated to receive Educational Initiative Grants totaling approximately $3 million to support full implementation of the Framework, starting with providing education and outreach to organizations that are required to sign the DxF Data Sharing Agreement by Jan. 31, 2023.
"The Governor and Legislature made data exchange a top priority in this year’s state budget, setting aside resources that can help providers prepare to safely and securely share health information. We are excited to announce this educational initiative grant funding to ensure health and human service organizations across California have the support they need to provide whole person care to every Californian through the real-time exchange of data and information,” said Mark Ghaly, M.D., secretary of the California Health and Human Services Agency, in a statement. "The seamless exchange of data is essential to advancing health equity in California and delivering on our vision of a Healthy California for All. Organizations are joining the Data Exchange Framework from all corners of California, and we look forward to many more signing by January 31, 2023.”
Early signers of the Data Sharing Agreement include a cross-section of health and human service organizations in California:
- New signers from rural areas include the Alpine County Health Department in the Sierra Nevada, Bear Valley Community Hospital in the San Bernardino Mountains, and Lompoc Valley Medical Center, a 60-bed general acute care rural hospital and community-owned healthcare system in Santa Barbara County.
- Physician groups include River City Medical Group, a progressive Independent Physician Association (IPA) dedicated to serving both the Medi-Cal and Medicare populations, and Hill Physicians Medical Group, the largest medical group of independent physicians in Northern California.
- Health information organizations include Santa Cruz HIO, a nonprofit and the first health information exchange established in California, and Manifest MedEx, the largest nonprofit health data network in the state.
The Educational Initiative Grant recipients announced today will support additional organizations as they sign the Data Sharing Agreement and fully implement the Data Exchange Framework, with education and outreach to hospitals, physician organizations, health plans, laboratories, and other health care entities. The eight grant recipients are:
- California Medical Association (CMA)
- California Primary Care Association (CPCA)
- The County Health Executives Association of California (CHEAC)
- California Association of Health Plans
- LeadingAge California Foundation
- American Academy of Pediatrics, California Chapter 1
- California Council of Community Behavioral Health Agencies
- America’s Physician Groups (APG) Multi-Association:
- California Academy of Family Physicians, Purchaser Business Group on Health-California Quality Collaborative, California Association of Health Care Facilities, California Association of Area Agencies on Aging, California Health Information Exchange
Activities funded by these grants will include the development and distribution of educational materials through targeted activities, including: Webinar Series, Coaching Hours, Health Information Technology Conferences, Learning Collaboratives, Data Exchange Framework Bootcamps, Educational Forums, FAQ, and Knowledge Resource Centers. All awardees have understanding of specific entities required to join the Data Exchange Framework, and will be providing CalHHS with regular updates and communication to help ensure DxF implementation is responsive to the needs of health and human service organizations.
The $50 million Data Exchange Framework Grant Program will support these Educational Initiative Grants, as well as funding for the on-boarding of Qualified Health Information Organizations (QHIO) and additional technical assistance for small or under-resourced providers, including small physician practices, rural hospitals, and community-based organizations. CalHHS will begin awarding these additional grants in 2023.
