Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH)

The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act, enacted in 2009, promotes the adoption of electronic health records (EHRs) to improve healthcare quality, safety, and efficiency. It provides financial incentives and support for healthcare providers to switch from paper to digital records, encouraging better data sharing and communication. The law also strengthens privacy and security protections for patients’ health information, ensuring that electronic data is protected against misuse or breaches. Overall, HITECH aims to modernize healthcare, making it more coordinated, transparent, and patient-centered.