CalHHS Names 9 Qualified Health Information Organizations for DxF

The California Health & Human Services Agency (CalHHS) has announced the designation of nine entities as Qualified Health Information Organizations (QHIOs) to support the state's health data exchange framework (DxF).

The data exchange framework is key to achieving the state's plans for transforming healthcare, expanding coverage, and improving connections between healthcare and social services.

DxF participants, including hospitals, medical groups, and skilled nursing facilities, may choose to utilize a QHIO as an intermediary. Alternatively, participants may exchange data through other means in compliance with the DxF's Data Sharing Agreement (DSA) and its accompanying Policies and Procedures (P&Ps).

"Qualified Health Information Organizations create an accessible path for countless health and social services entities to participate in the Data Exchange Framework, providing access to actionable data across California's entire health and social services system," Mark Ghaly, MD, MPH, secretary of CalHHS, said in a press release.

"The added information healthcare providers will have at their disposal, the ease in which it can be securely shared, and the resulting informed and coordinated care that is possible, are fundamental improvements in how California's healthcare system operates," Ghaly said. "We are on the brink of ushering in a new era of true continuity of care for all, a remarkable advancement made possible with the Data Exchange Framework and modern data exchange."

CalHHS designated the following organizations as QHIOs:

• Applied Research Works, Inc.
• Health Gorilla, Inc.
• Long Health, Inc.
• Los Angeles Network for Enhanced Services (LANES)
• Manifest MedEx
• Orange County Partners in Health-Health Information Exchange (OCPH-HIE)
• SacValley MedShare
• San Diego Health Connect
• Serving Communities Health Information Organization (SCHIO)

QHIOs provide health information exchange (HIE) capabilities many health and social service entities currently do not have, especially those serving historically marginalized populations and underserved communities.

The designation of QHIOs marks a major step in the DxF implementation by providing Signatories with the opportunity for trustworthy and efficient DxF participation.

CalHHS requires many health entities across the state, including general acute care hospitals, physician organizations and medical groups, healthcare service plans, and disability insurers, to begin exchanging health data by January 31, 2024.