HITECH Act

The HITECH Act, enacted in 2009, aims to promote the adoption of electronic health records (EHR) and enhance the privacy and security of patients’ health information. It encourages healthcare providers to transition from paper records to digital systems by offering financial incentives. Additionally, it strengthens the rules around protecting personal health information and increases penalties for violations. The overall goal is to improve healthcare efficiency and patient care while ensuring that sensitive medical data is safeguarded against breaches and unauthorized access.