Physician practices and medical groups are reminded that under state law, they must sign California’s Data Sharing Agreement (DSA) by January 31, 2023. The agreement is part of the state’s new Data Exchange Framework. The goal of the framework is to create a statewide data sharing agreement to expedite and expand the exchange of information among all health and human services organizations throughout the state.

The agreement can be signed via the California Health and Human Services Agency’s (CalHHS) new online portal.

The DSA is meant to serve as a contract between physician practices, hospitals, health plans, and other health care entities stating that they will make data available to one another upon request. The DSA lays out the parameters of that agreement and outlines what information needs to be exchanged, privacy and security standards, and permitted uses of data.  

The California Medical Association (CMA) has published resources to help physicians understand the new framework and how it will impact their practices, including:

• A fact sheet that provides background, timelines and a list of frequently asked questions.
• An on-demand webinar about the Data Exchange Framework and how to prepare for it.

Both of these resources are free to CMA members only.