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State Health Information Guidance (SHIG)

The State Health Information Guidance (SHIG) is a collaboration of the Center for Data Insights and Innovation with various organizations to develop specific materials to help clarify federal and state laws that affect disclosure and sharing of health information. The SHIG efforts comprise of comprehensive research, drawing from a broad group of stakeholders that reflect cross-industry insights and experience, to get a clear understanding of the problems different groups were facing in the field.

This page provides information on the following SHIG efforts:

For general information about the SHIG – refer to the SHIG Fact Sheet.

We strongly encourage all users of the SHIG to read it in its entirety and consult with your legal counsel if you have any questions.

For information about the SHIG, email shiginformation@chhs.ca.gov

Sharing Behavioral Health Information in California

CDII, with support from the California Health Care Foundation, created the initial version of SHIG which focused on sharing behavioral health information in California.  This version of SHIG:

  • Provides an authoritative but non-binding guidance from the State of California written in plain language for a general audience
  • Explains when, where, and why mental health and substance use disorder information can be exchanged
  • Provides clarification of state and federal laws
  • Contains 22 scenarios derived from real user stories, which clarify how laws apply to actual situations that arise for care providers

Download SHIG Volume 1:

Sharing Health Information to Address Food and Nutrition Insecurity in California

CDII, in collaboration with Nourish California and the California Primary Care Association, launched the SHIG Volume 2 project to address the problem of food and nutrition insecurity among Californians.

SHIG Volume 2 provides clarification of federal and state law targeting the sharing of health and social services information to support the coordination of treatment/care and services related to food and nutrition insecurity.  Volume 2 contains 14 scenarios targeting:

  • General information sharing (name and contact information)
  • Health provider to health provider information sharing
  • Social services program-specific information sharing – including CalFresh, the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program, Medically Tailored Meals, and Older Americans Act Nutrition Program

A special thank you to our funders for this effort who are Nourish California (with support from CommonSpirit Health), Archstone Foundation, the California Health Care Foundation, and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) who provided CDII with grants to augment the SHIG.

Download SHIG Volume 2:

Other Information:

Sharing HIV/AIDS Information in California

CDII is proud to announce the publication of State Health Information Guidance (SHIG) 3.0 – Sharing HIV/AIDS Information in California. Persons living with HIV/AIDS require coordination of care between health providers; community-based organizations; public health departments; and other entities.

SHIG Volume 3 gives health providers and other service providers the knowledge and confidence they need to share HIV/AIDS information that supports coordinated and integrated care and services. The SHIG clarifies federal and state laws by translating them into non-legal and non-technical language for a general audience. This clarity empowers secure and appropriate data sharing among health providers, ultimately leading to better care integration and health outcomes while protecting privacy.

SHIG Volume 3 contains four (4) scenarios:

  • Scenario 1 – Health Provider to Patient (electronically)
  • Scenario 2 – Public Health to Community-based Organization (CBO)
  • Scenario 3 – Health Provider to CBO
  • Scenario 4 – CBO to Partner

A special thank you to our funders for this effort who are the California Health Care Foundation (CHCF), Archstone Foundation, and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) who provided CDII with grants to augment the SHIG.

Download SHIG Volume 3.0:

Sharing Health Information of People Living with Intellectual and/or Developmental Disabilities in California

The Center for Data Insights and Innovation (CDII) is proud to announce the publication of State Health Information Guidance (SHIG) 4 – Sharing Health Information of People Living with Intellectual and/or Developmental Disabilities in California. Persons living with Intellectual and/or Developmental Disabilities require coordination of care between health providers; community-based organizations (CBO); public health departments; and other entities.

SHIG Volume 4 gives health providers and other service providers the knowledge and confidence they need to share Intellectual and/or Developmental Disabilities information that supports coordinated and integrated care and services. The SHIG clarifies federal and state laws by translating them into non-legal and non-technical language for a general audience. This clarity empowers secure and appropriate data sharing among health providers, ultimately leading to better care integration and health outcomes while protecting privacy.

SHIG Volume 4 contains seven (7) scenarios:

  • Scenario 1 – Regional Center / Regional Center Vendor to Health Provider
  • Scenario 2 – Regional Center / Regional Center Vendor to Parent (or family member)
  • Scenario 3 – Regional Center / Regional Center Vendor to Caregiver
  • Scenario 4 – Health Provider to Regional Center / Regional Center Vendor
  • Scenario 5 – Behavioral Health Provider to Regional Center / Regional Center Vendor – Mental Health Information
  • Scenario 6 – Behavioral Health Provider to Regional Center / Regional Center Vendor – Substance Use Disorder Information
  • Scenario 7 – Health Provider to Health Provider

A special thank you to our funders for this effort who are the California Health Care Foundation (CHCF), Archstone Foundation, and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) who provided CDII with grants to augment the SHIG.

Download SHIG Volume 4:

Sharing Minors and Foster Youth Health Information in California

The Center for Data Insights and Innovation (CDII) is proud to announce the publication of State Health Information Guidance (SHIG) 5 – Sharing Minors and Foster Youth Health Information in California.

SHIG Volume 5 gives health providers and other service providers the knowledge and confidence they need to share minors and foster youth health information to support coordinated and integrated care and services. The SHIG clarifies federal and state laws by translating them into non-legal and non-technical language for a general audience. This clarity empowers secure and appropriate data sharing among health providers, ultimately leading to better care integration and health outcomes while protecting privacy.

SHIG Volume 5 contains 15 scenarios targeting:

  • Minors – 11 scenarios
  • Foster Youth – four (4) scenarios

A special thank you to our funders for this effort who are the California Health Care Foundation (CHCF), Archstone Foundation, and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) who provided CDII with grants to augment the SHIG.

Download SHIG Volume 5:

More Information