What does HITECH stand for?

HITECH stands for Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health. This term is related to legislation enacted as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The primary goal of HITECH is to promote the adoption and meaningful use of health information technology, specifically electronic health records (EHRs). The legislation provides financial incentives to healthcare providers to enhance the use of EHRs and improve healthcare quality, safety, and efficiency through better data sharing and accessibility.

By emphasizing the importance of technology in healthcare, HITECH aims to modernize the healthcare system, reduce costs, and improve patient outcomes. This initiative also includes provisions to strengthen the privacy and security protections established under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), making it an integral part of contemporary healthcare compliance efforts.