SB 278: Health data: HIV test results.

This bill aims to modify the current health data laws in California, specifically related to the disclosure of HIV test results. The existing law restricts the disclosure of HIV test results to a third party, unless written authorization is provided. However, the bill proposes to relax these restrictions for certain purposes. For Medi-Cal beneficiaries, the bill allows healthcare providers to disclose HIV test results without written authorization to the beneficiary's managed care plan and external quality review organizations. This is intended to facilitate the administration of quality improvement programs, such as value-based payment programs and healthy behavior incentive programs. Additionally, HIV test results that do not identify or provide identifying characteristics of the test subjects can be disclosed without written authorization to departmental staff for the above-described…