Data Sharing Agreement (DSA): State Highlights Upcoming Grants and Policy Decisions

The CalHHS Center for Data Insights and Innovation (CDII) devoted the April installment of its “Information is Power” webinar series to the imminent launch of the DSA Signatory Grant Program. CDII will make available up to $47 million in state funds to support investments that healthcare entities may need to achieve their Data Exchange Framework (DxF) requirements, including onboarding to a qualified health information organization (QHIO). Manifest MedEx will provide educational activities and resources to help DSA signatories access this critical funding opportunity, which opens in May.

At the April 24 DxF advisory committee meeting, CDII announced that despite “significant…stakeholder support for facilitating exchange by requiring hospitals and EDs to share [ADT] notifications with [at least one] QHIO,” the center has determined not to pursue this requirement at this time. Physician groups, clinics, and health plans voiced their disappointment with this decision, which perpetuates the status quo for small and independent practices that are in most need of, but least able to receive, ADT alerts for their patients.

In addition, Manifest MedEx pointed out the significant burdens that will likely fall upon hospitals unwilling to share ADTs with at least one QHIO. Because CDII still plans to require hospitals to send ADTs to any authorized DSA signatory that requests these notifications, those facilities stand to be inundated with ADT requests for millions of patients across thousands of panels. This is an unworkable situation in stark contrast to using a QHIO that can securely and efficiently manage, attribute, and route a daily statewide volume of ADTs to the appropriate care teams.

Regardless of the final policy outcome, Manifest MedEx is committed to becoming a QHIO, to help participants comply with and benefit from the DxF by sharing real-time health information through our network. CDII has posted draft versions of the QHIO Program application and associated policy for public comment by May 15.