Health facilities: information sharing.

Senator Arreguín's proposed legislation seeks to establish new parameters around patient data protection in California health facilities by prohibiting these institutions from sharing patient information with immigration authorities.

The measure would apply to all licensed health facilities, including general acute care hospitals, acute psychiatric hospitals, and skilled nursing facilities currently regulated by the State Department of Public Health. Under existing law, the Confidentiality of Medical Information Act already restricts health care providers from disclosing patient medical information without authorization, with certain exceptions. This proposal would specifically address information sharing between health facilities and immigration authorities, creating an explicit prohibition on providing patient data, records, or facility access to these entities.

The bill represents a statement of legislative intent that would affect operational protocols at health facilities throughout California. While the measure does not require state funding or create new regulatory bodies, it would add to the existing framework of medical privacy protections overseen by the State Department of Public Health. The proposal maintains the current regulatory structure while introducing new restrictions on institutional information sharing practices.