Health and care facilities: information sharing.

Senator Arreguín's healthcare privacy legislation expands California's medical information protections to include immigration status and establishes new protocols for healthcare facilities facing immigration enforcement requests. The bill modifies the Confidentiality of Medical Information Act to explicitly prohibit healthcare providers from disclosing patient immigration status or other medical information for immigration enforcement purposes without patient authorization or a valid judicial warrant.

The legislation requires healthcare facilities to implement visitor monitoring procedures and restricts access to non-public areas during immigration enforcement activities unless authorized by a court order. When immigration officials request facility access or patient information, staff must immediately notify facility management or legal counsel. Healthcare entities must also train personnel on properly handling such requests while protecting patient privacy.

The bill's scope encompasses a broad range of healthcare settings, including hospitals, clinics, physician organizations, and integrated delivery systems. These entities must comply with the new requirements within 45 days of the law taking effect. The legislation applies to both state-operated and private facilities, as well as those receiving state funding or providing physical health, mental health, education, or justice-related services.

To ensure vulnerable populations can access medical care without fear, the bill includes an urgency clause for immediate implementation upon passage. While the act creates new obligations for local health facilities, it specifies that certain costs will not require state reimbursement under California's constitution.