Privacy, Security and Health Information Technology

There’s much publicity about the potential benefits of electronic health records and exchanges.  One commonly cited anticipated benefit for individuals and the U.S. health care system is improved clinical care and reduced cost.  However, the implementation of an electronic environment also poses privacy and security challenges for protecting individually identifiable health information.  Understandably, if individuals [...]

Updates From the ONC Health IT Buzz

If you’ve been following this Blog, you’d know that we’ve been tracking developments relating to the proposed nationwide adoption of health information technology (Health IT).  Health IT is a component of the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).  As part of the many phases of implementing Health IT and keeping the American public informed, [...]

Carrot & Stick: Incentives For The Adoption of Health IT – Part 1

In previous articles, we examined aspects of the HITECH Act, a component of the multi-billion dollar American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009.  In this installment of the series, we highlight government incentives to boost the nationwide adoption of health information technology (health IT). A.  Incentives Through Funding  HITECH Act authorizes the DHHS Secretary to invest [...]

Health Information Security: HITECH Act and HIPAA

Introduction  In a previous article, we highlighted Title XIII of the Recovery Act, which contains the provisions and appropriations for the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (a.k.a. the HITECH Act).  Understandably, these provisions are not isolated from other healthcare regulations.  In particular, the health IT standards and implementation specifications adopted under [...]

Getting to Know the ARRA of 2009: Advancing Health Information Technology

Introduction  I admit, when I first read early buzz about the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA or the Recovery Act) of 2009, it didn’t hold my interest.  There was too much politics in the debates.  However, in the months since February 2009, things appear to have moved on to implementation/evaluation phase – evidence-based outcomes, [...]

Getting to Know the ARRA of 2009 : Accountability and Transparency Provisions

In an earlier article, we presented an overview and main purposes of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009.  This follow up article examines some of the compliance requirements of the Act.  The word “unprecedented” is used frequently to describe the levels of accountability requirements of the Recovery Act.  Ranging from reports, audits, [...]

Getting to Know the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009

In February 2009, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 (also referred to as the Recovery Act or the Act) became law.  The opening page of the official 407-page document describes the Act as:  Making supplemental appropriations for job preservation and creation, infrastructure investment, energy efficiency and science, assistance to the unemployed, and [...]