(a) The department, in collaboration with the State Department of Public Health, shall develop policies and guidance on the transition of persons diagnosed with HIV/AIDS from federal Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act of 2009 (Ryan White Act) funded programs, pursuant to Section 131019 of the Health and Safety Code, to the Low Income Health Program (LIHP) pursuant to this part. These policies and guidance shall be provided to local LIHPs, federal Ryan White Act providers, and to persons receiving services pursuant to the federal Ryan White Act, as applicable. Guidance shall include, but not be limited to, operational processes and procedures supporting the transition of persons receiving services pursuant to the federal Ryan White Act in order to minimize disruption of access to and availability of care and services.
(b) The department, in collaboration with the State Department of Public Health, shall consult with stakeholders, including administrators, advocates, providers, and persons receiving services pursuant to the federal Ryan White Act, to obtain advice in forming the policy decisions regarding the transition of persons receiving services pursuant to the federal Ryan White Act to the local LIHPs.
(c) Notwithstanding any other law, for the purpose of implementing LIHP, pursuant to this part, the State Department of Public Health may share relevant data related to a beneficiary’s enrollment in federal Ryan White Act funded programs who may be eligible for LIHP services with the participating entity, as defined in Section 15909.1, operating a LIHP, and the participating entity may share relevant data relating to persons diagnosed with HIV/AIDS with the State Department of Public Health.
(1) The information provided by the State Department of Public Health pursuant to this section shall not be further disclosed by a participating entity, as defined in Section 15909.1, operating a LIHP, except to any of the following:
(A) The person to whom the information pertains or the designated representative of the person.
(B) The health care provider that provides HIV/AIDS care to the person to whom the information pertains.
(C) The Office of AIDS within the State Department of Public Health.
(2) Information shared pursuant to this section is subject to the confidentiality protections of subdivisions (d) and (e) of Section 121025 of the Health and Safety Code.
(Amended by Stats. 2012, Ch. 438, Sec. 29. (AB 1468) Effective September 22, 2012.)