In what year was the HITECH Act implemented?

The HITECH Act was implemented in 2009 as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). This legislation aimed to promote the adoption and meaningful use of health information technology, particularly electronic health records (EHRs). The act established financial incentives for healthcare providers to adopt EHRs, set standards for technology to ensure interoperability, and included provisions to strengthen privacy and security protections for health information, enhancing the original HIPAA regulations.

Understanding the significance of the HITECH Act is crucial, as it marked a pivotal moment in the advancement of health IT in the United States, driving efforts to modernize and improve healthcare delivery through technology. The other years listed are incorrect because they do not align with the actual implementation date of the HITECH Act as part of the overarching goals of enhancing healthcare efficiency and security through increased technology use.