hitech

The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH) is a United States law enacted in 2009 as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Its primary aim is to promote the adoption, meaningful use, and interoperability of health information technology, with a focus on electronic health records (EHRs).

HITECH provides substantial funding and incentives to encourage providers to adopt, implement, upgrade, and demonstrate meaningful use of certified EHR technology. These incentives are delivered through Medicare and Medicaid programs. The act also supports health information exchange, standards development, and the work of the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC), regional extension centers, and related infrastructure to advance interoperability.

In the privacy and security arena, HITECH strengthened HIPAA protections by expanding the responsibilities of business associates, enhancing breach notification requirements, and increasing enforcement capabilities. It introduced higher penalties for noncompliance and enabled state attorneys general to pursue civil actions for HIPAA violations, reinforcing deterrence and accountability in handling protected health information.

The act established programs and standards designed to foster interoperability and improve care quality. It formalized the Meaningful Use program, later reorganized as Promoting Interoperability, with stages that set progressively stricter criteria for demonstrating the value of EHRs. HITECH thus played a pivotal role in accelerating EHR adoption and health IT infrastructure, while also shaping privacy and security policy. Over time, some goals and mechanisms evolved through subsequent regulations and CMS rulemaking, reflecting ongoing debates about costs, usability, interoperability, and patient privacy.