(

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

Section 1798.3 of the Civil Code, and protected health information, as defined in Parts and of Title of the Code of Federal Regulations, regarding individual beneficiaries and applicants. (

b) Notwithstanding

Chapter 3.5 (commencing with

Section 11340) of Part of Division of Title 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 of Division of Title of the Government Code. Beginning six months after the effective date of this section, and notwithstanding

Section 10231.5 of the Government Code, the department shall provide a status report to the Legislature on a semiannual basis, in compliance with

Section of the Government Code, until regulations have been adopted.