What is the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act?
The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act is a federal law that protects the privacy and security of health information. It was signed into law by President Barack Obama in 2009. The HITECH Act covers the exchange of health information between healthcare providers and organizations, including health insurance companies, public health authorities, and other entities. It also requires organizations to meet certain security requirements when handling health information. This includes encryption of health data and compliance with regulations related to the transmission of health data. The HITECH Act also provides incentives for healthcare providers to adopt and use electronic health records (EHRs). It also encourages the use of health information exchanges (HIEs), which allow healthcare providers to electronically share patient records with one another. The HITECH Act also includes breach notification requirements, which require organizations to inform individuals when their information has been or is reasonably suspected to have been accessed without authorization. The HITECH Act has had a significant impact on the way healthcare organizations handle data security and privacy, and has helped to create a more secure and compliant healthcare environment.
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