New state law makes HCAI administrator of California's data exchange framework, tightens signatory and compliance rules
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Summary
A law that took effect in January designates the Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI) as administrator of the state's Data Exchange Framework, requires additional provider groups to sign a data sharing agreement and directs HCAI to publish noncompliant entities and consider enforcement steps.
The Department of Health Care Access and Information has been named the administrator of California's Data Exchange Framework under recently enacted legislation, a department official told the advisory committee during an orientation session.
'The first thing that the bill did was it made HCAI ... the administrator of the program,' Jacob Parkinson, the DXF program director, said during the meeting. Parkinson said the statute (referred to in discussion as SB 660) took effect in January and codified several changes the committee will consider over the coming year.
Why it matters: the law expands which organizations must execute the DXF data sharing agreement and creates public compliance reporting and new enforcement options for HCAI. Parkinson said physician organizations, medical groups and emergency medical services will be required to sign the DSA and begin exchanging data, and the statute codifies Qualified Health Information Organizations (QHIOs) as designated intermediaries.
Key requirements and timeline: Parkinson told the committee the statute requires contracting conditions for major purchasers (DHCS, Covered California and CalPERS) to be in place beginning July 1, 2026, and directs HCAI to publish a list of entities required to execute the DSA that have not done so beginning Jan. 1. The department also may pursue additional enforcement actions, Parkinson said, subject to legislative appropriation.
Parkinson said the committee's work will include evaluating the QHIO designation process, reviewing contracting conditions, developing best practices for collecting demographic and health-related social needs data, and producing a report to the Legislature by July (the session materials set a July reporting target tied to the statute).
HCAI role and advisory limits: Michael Valle, HCAI deputy director, and other staff emphasized that the stakeholder advisory committee is an advisory body. Parkinson said the committee's recommendations will inform HCAI policy choices but that HCAI retains decision authority.
Public concerns: committee members and public participants asked about operational differences across signatories and whether a single set of expectations would be feasible; stakeholders stressed that capacity varies and urged the department to consider technical assistance and grant support when finalizing recommendations.
Next steps: HCAI said it will share preread materials ahead of the first in-person meeting where voting members will be sworn in and where the committee will begin detailed review of QHIO designations, contracting conditions and the report to the Legislature.
