Hawaii Senate Bill SCR15

Hawaii 2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/29/24
• Refer: 3/1/24

Caption

Requesting The Department Of Health's State Health Planning And Development Agency To Convene A Health Data Sharing Working Group To Accelerate And Expand The Sharing Of Real Time Health Information Among Health Care Entities And Government Agencies In The State.

Impact

The working group's establishment aims to address existing barriers in health information sharing and promote equity in health access. It focuses on creating a standardization package for health data sharing, developing universal policies, and ensuring compliance with national standards. The resolution emphasizes that the Hawaii health system has made limited progress in linking its care entities and that the time is ripe for state and federal partnerships to drive improvements through technology and standardized data practices.

Summary

SCR15 is a Senate Concurrent Resolution from the State of Hawaii that requests the Department of Health's State Health Planning and Development Agency to convene a health data sharing working group. The purpose of this group is to accelerate and expand the sharing of real-time health information among healthcare entities and government agencies within Hawaii. This resolution highlights the critical need for interoperable health data systems to improve health outcomes, lower healthcare costs, and enhance coordination among providers, especially in emergency situations such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the recent wildfires in Maui.

Contention

Notable issues surrounding the bill include the need to address privacy and security risks associated with a broader health data sharing infrastructure. The working group is tasked with finding ways to implement equitable health information exchange mechanisms while safeguarding patient data. Furthermore, the emphasis on encompassing social determinants of health indicates an intention to understand and address inequities faced by underserved populations which may result in diverse reactions among stakeholders as they balance privacy concerns with the necessity for improved health communication and intervention strategies.