What legislation established the HITECH Act?

The HITECH Act, which stands for the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act, was established as a part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009. This legislation was designed to promote the adoption and meaningful use of health information technology, particularly electronic health records (EHRs).

By linking incentives to the use of EHRs, the HITECH Act aimed to enhance healthcare quality, efficiency, and patient safety through improved data exchange and interoperability. Moreover, it established a framework for the privacy and security provisions within the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), expanding the enforcement capabilities of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services regarding health information.

The other legislations mentioned do not directly establish the HITECH Act. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act primarily focuses on protecting patient health information. The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act deals with budgetary issues concerning healthcare programs. The Healthcare Quality Improvement Act is aimed primarily at enhancing the quality of healthcare by encouraging peer review in the medical profession, rather than addressing the specifics of health information technology adoption.