Bill > AB618

This bill aims to improve treatment and care coordination for individuals receiving services through various Medi-Cal behavioral health programs by mandating electronic data sharing among different healthcare entities. Specifically, the bill requires Medi-Cal managed care plans, county specialty mental health plans, Drug Medi-Cal certified programs, and Drug Medi-Cal organized delivery system (DMC-ODS) programs to electronically share member data to support patient care. The California Health and Human Services Agency and the State Department of Health Care Services will collaborate to determine the minimum data elements, frequency, and format of data sharing through a stakeholder process, with final guidance to be published by January 1, 2027. The bill emphasizes that all data sharing must comply with existing privacy protections, including HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) and federal substance use disorder patient record confidentiality regulations. The goal is to support the objectives of the California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM) Act and the Behavioral Health Services Act by facilitating better information exchange between healthcare providers while maintaining strict patient privacy standards.

Budget and Finance, Health and Social Services

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB618