About Health Information Management & Technology
California hospitals are committed to making health information easy to share so that patients and providers can make better informed decisions. This coordination leads to better health outcomes for patients and more efficient health care for all. CHA produces the California Health Information Privacy Manual to help hospitals ensure compliance with myriad state and federal laws.
HCAI Publishes List of Hospitals That Must Submit Report by Sept. 30 or Face $5,000 Penalty
What’s happening: The Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI) recently published a list of hospitals that are required to submit a health equity report to the department by Sept. 30, as mandated by Assembly Bill 1204 (2021).
Hospital Equity Reporting Regulations Now in Effect, Deadline for HQI’s Reporting Assistance Extended
What’s happening: The regulations to implement Assembly Bill (AB) 1204 (2021), which requires hospitals to submit annual reports to the Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI) on measures related to health equity, are effective as of June 4.
CDII Proposes Amendments to DxF Technical Requirements Policy and Procedure
What’s happening: The Center for Data Insights and Innovation (CDII) has released proposed amendments to the Technical Requirements for Exchange Policy and Procedure, which govern the California Data Exchange Framework (DxF). What else to know: Comments to CDII can be submitted through email to CDII@chhs.ca.gov by July 21. The proposed changes would: Remove the specification […]
Data Exchange Framework Feedback Due June 13
What’s happening: The Center for Data Insights and Innovation (CDII) is conducting a survey of Data Exchange Framework (DxF) participants to evaluate progress and identify opportunities to further accelerate data exchange.
CDPH Pauses Real-Time Bed Capacity System Implementation
What’s happening: The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) is temporarily pausing implementation of its real-time hospital bed capacity system — named the Hospital Bed and Emergency Medical Services Data System — as it works to finalize operational details.
CHA Comments on Proposed Changes to HIPAA Rule
What’s happening: On March 7, CHA submitted comments on proposed modifications to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) security rule.
What else to know: CHA urged the Office of Civil Rights to rescind the proposed rule and instead focus policymaking on coordinated federal efforts to prevent and deter cyberattacks in the broader health care sector.
Participant User Guide Assists Hospitals That Signed State’s Data Sharing Agreement
What’s happening: The Center for Data Insights and Innovation (CDII) has released a Participant User Guide for hospitals that have signed the California Data Exchange Framework’s (Dxf) Data Sharing Agreement. The guide explains the information exchange process of health and social services information and outlines how requests for information between Dxf participants — including admission, discharge, and transfer notifications — should occur.
What else to know: CDII also released version 1.2 of the DxF Policy and Procedure “Data Elements to be Exchanged” document, which aligns the state requirement for exchanging health and social services information with the U.S. Core Data for Interoperability information required by the federal Office of the National Coordinator beginning Jan. 1, 2026. The same DxF Policy and Procedure version 1.1 document remains effective through Dec. 31.
HHS Proposes Updates to HIPAA Security Rule
What’s happening: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) proposed revisions to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Security Rule aim to strengthen cybersecurity protections for electronic protected health information (ePHI).
What else to know: Comments on the proposed rule are due by March 7.
CHA Releases Summary of New Hospital Bed Tracking System
What’s happening: The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) received the authority and funding to implement a real-time hospital bed capacity system through Assembly Bill 177. CDPH plans to work with the Hospital Association of Oregon to implement the Healthcare Capacity System (HCS), developed by its affiliate, Apprise
What else to know: CDPH selected HCS after an extensive search. The state’s goal is to use this data to monitor hospital surge and system capacity, understand regional needs, develop policies, and position resources appropriately
New Interoperability Final Rule Focuses on Information Sharing
What’s happening: The Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy (ASTP) and Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology issued the second part of a final rule to advance interoperability and improve information sharing among patients, providers, payers, and public health authorities.
What else to know: This final rule focuses on information blocking exceptions, including reproductive health data policies.