Hawaii Senate Bill SB895

Hawaii 2023 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/20/23
• Refer: 1/27/23

Caption

Relating To Health Data Sharing.

Impact

The legislation mandates the development of a Hawaii health data exchange framework by September 1, 2024, which will be based on a unified data-sharing agreement between various health organizations including hospitals, physician groups, and insurance providers. This framework is intended to not only align Hawaii’s practices with federal standards for health information exchange, but to also improve real-time access to valuable data that enables better-informed patient care decisions. The act encourages participation from both public and private sectors in executing health data sharing agreements, creating a more integrated health system across the state.

Summary

SB895 aims to establish a framework for health data exchange in Hawaii to facilitate the seamless and secure sharing of health information among healthcare entities and government agencies. The bill recognizes the importance of electronic health information exchange in improving health outcomes, reducing healthcare costs, and enhancing care coordination across healthcare providers. It specifically addresses health equity challenges, particularly for Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders, by emphasizing the need for policies that reflect social determinants of health and access barriers that significantly affect health outcomes.

Contention

There may be points of contention surrounding the implementation of this framework, particularly regarding privacy and security concerns. As the bill calls for extensive data sharing and access provisions, there are likely risks associated with information security and the protection of patient privacy. Stakeholders may also voice differing opinions on how to incorporate social determinants of health into the data-sharing framework and how to reliably engage all necessary health entities without overstepping individual rights or local government regulations.