Lee discusses AI and cross-agency data sharing for applications

I have to say, I know there's some controversy out there about the use of AI, but this is one area where I feel like I wonder if, and I've spoken to other agencies about this, is

is there a way for us to, and I get there's HIPAA, all of those things, right?

We want to protect privacy.

Yes.

And I've spoken to deputy mayors and commissioners about figuring out if there's a way to, first of all, identify people not in terms of their actual identity, but coding it somehow.

And then also on top of that.

Because at least in the mental health space, for example, when I was chair of mental health, we, you know, every time I ask questions about Be Heard, right, you know, or folks that have comorbid issues, right?

If I am homeless and I go into a shelter one day and then next month I have an episode and I end up at H&H Hospital Systems, right?

And then next month after that, I go into and get picked up by an outreach street team because of my issues around substance use, right?

So how are we ensuring that people are not falling through the cracks and that our systems are communicating with each other somehow?

Right, and I get that the cross-agency meetings with all the teams are important and helpful, like in person, but I also wonder from a

data perspective, is there a way that we can make things more efficient with the application process?

As well as

some of the frustrations that our providers are saying.

Because same thing, you know, when I was working in social services and the nonprofit sector, you know, you have to, the work that the caseworkers need to do is very cumbersome.

And even folks and friends of ours, myself personally, who are professionals, right?

They may be doctors, lawyers, whatever.

They call me because they're like, don't you guys do work with helping, you know, seniors and older adults apply for Medicare, Medicaid, all these benefits?

And I'm like, yes, because these are professionals who are like, this is so complicated because it's literally so sort of like spread out in terms of the areas that they need to look into.

And so I just wanted to emphasize that point and put it out there that I do think that we need to start maybe having these conversations at a city level to see what can be done,

understanding, of course, that we do want to keep information private and data private.

I just wonder if it would help us be more efficient.

Yes, DOHMH is interested in joining those conversations with you.

Yes.

I think other city agencies would also need to be involved, but we are open.

Understand your point, right?

There is a time tax on...

Beneficiaries and on providers with having to deal with multiple forms or forms that are longer than they need to be.

Right.

And also, I mean, just like with college applications, there's the common app.

right, where you apply for multiple things at the same time, which I know she's nodding her head because, like, I'm not saying it has to be done that same way, but, you know, is there something where, you know, there's basic information that we can collect all at the same time and share with different agencies?

I think that would speed up potentially the process.

So things like that, I just feel like, you know, we need to do better to help folks out.

I appreciate the fact that you guys are on the same page, but we've got to figure out how to continue those conversations.

Okay.