(a) The department, any other government agency that is determining eligibility for, or enrollment in, the Medi-Cal program or any other program administered by the department, or collecting protected health information for those purposes, and the California Health Benefit Exchange established pursuant to Title 22 (commencing with Section 100500) of the Government Code, shall share information with each other as necessary to enable them to perform their respective statutory and regulatory duties under state and federal law. This information shall include, but not be limited to, personal information, as defined in subdivision (a) of § 1798.3 of the Civil Code, and protected health information, as defined in Parts 160 and 164 of Title 45 of the Code of Federal Regulations, regarding individual beneficiaries and applicants.

(b) Notwithstanding Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, the department may implement, interpret, or make specific this section by means of all-county letters, plan letters, plan or provider bulletins, or similar instructions until the time any necessary regulations are adopted. The department shall adopt regulations by July 1, 2017, in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code. Beginning six months after the effective date of this section, and notwithstanding § 10231.5 of the Government Code, the department shall provide a status report to the Legislature on a semiannual basis, in compliance with § 9795 of the Government Code, until regulations have been adopted.

(Amended (as added by Stats. 2013, 1st Ex. Sess., Ch. 3, Sec. 18) by Stats. 2013, Ch. 442, Sec. 10. (SB 28) Effective January 1, 2014.)