The HITECH Act of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, signed by President Obama on February 17, 2009, provides an electronic health record (EHR) adoption incentive program for healthcare providers who adopt certified electronic health records and use them in a meaningful way to improve patient care. The incentive program begins in January 2011 and terminates at the end of 2014 for new adopters of certified electronic health record technology. HHS’ Health Information Technology (IT) Policy Committee released on June 16, 2009, two documents pertaining to the definition of “meaningful use” for public comment by 5 PM ET, Friday, June 26, 2009. These documents are the Meaningful Use…
Category: Health IT and HITECH
HHS’s HIT Policy Committee Releases Draft Recommendations on Meaningful Use for Public Comment
The HITECH Act of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, signed by President Obama on February 17, 2009, provides an electronic health record (EHR) adoption incentive program for healthcare providers who adopt certified electronic health records and use them in a meaningful way to improve patient care. The incentive program begins in January 2011 and terminates at the end of 2014 for new adopters of certified electronic health record technology. HHS’ Health Information Technology (IT) Policy Committee released on June 16, 2009, two documents pertaining to the definition of “meaningful use” for public comment by 5 PM ET, Friday, June 26, 2009. These documents are the Meaningful Use…
Word of the Day: Data Storage
Data Storage: Computer storage is the holding of data in an electromagnetic form for access by a computer processor. Primary storage are data in random access memory (RAM) and other “built-in” devices. Secondary storage are data on hard disk, tapes, and other external devices.
Word of the Day: Benchmarking
Benchmarking: Continuous process whereby an enterprise measures and compares all of its functions, systems, and practices against strong competitors, identifying quality gaps in the organization, and striving to achieve competitive advantage locally and globally.
Word of the Day: Request for Proposal
Request for Proposal (RFP): A compilation of factors the buyer will consider before making a purchase. An RFP is typically sent to two or more potential responders and always contains a due date and contact person in the event those bidding on the proposal have additional questions.
Physical Safeguard Standard, Workstation Use-What to Do and How to Do It
In our series on the HIPAA Administrative Simplification Security Rule, Workstation Use is the second Physical Safeguard Standard. There is no defined implementation specification for this standard. Implementation of policies and procedures pertaining to this standard are required. As we have noted in earlier postings on HIPAA.com, business associates of covered entities will be required to comply with the Security Rule safeguard standards, beginning February 17, 2010. This requirement is one of the HITECH Act provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), signed by President Obama on February 17, 2009. What is Required A covered entity must implement policies and procedures that specify the proper functions to be…
HHS appoints members to HIT Policy and Standards Committee
On Friday, May 8, 2009, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced appointments to the Health Information Technology (HIT) Policy Committee and HIT Standards Committee. These federal advisory committees were established by provisions in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) that President Obama signed on February 17, 2009. Today, is the first meeting of the HIT Policy Committee, and Friday, May 15, 2009, is the first scheduled meeting of the HIT Standards Committee, both in Washington, DC. According to the press release issued by HHS, “[t]he HIT Policy Committee will make recommendations to the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology [Dr. David Blumenthal] on a policy…
HITECH Privacy Provisions Include HIPAA Privacy Definitions and New or Broadened Concepts
This posting is one of several that outline the HITECH privacy provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act that President Obama signed into law on Tuesday, February 17, 2009, in Denver, CO. Here, we reproduce the definitions that appear in Subtitle D—Privacy, Section 13400. Definitions, that appear in the Conference Report on page H1345 of Congressional Record—House, February 12, 2009. These definitions are critical in understanding the content of the new HITECH privacy provisions and how they relate to existing HIPAA Administrative Simplification Privacy Rule standards. HIPAA Privacy Definitions: BreachBusiness AssociateCovered EntityDisclosureElectronic Health RecordHealth Care Operations Health Care ProviderHealth PlanNational CoordinatorPaymentPersonal Health RecordProtected Health Information SecretarySecurityStateTreatmentUseVendor Of Personal Health…
The Definition of Vendor of Personal Health Records
This posting is one of several that outline the HITECH privacy provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act that President Obama signed into law on Tuesday, February 17, 2009, in Denver, CO. Here, we reproduce the definitions that appear in Subtitle D—Privacy, Section 13400. Definitions, that appear in the Conference Report on page H1345 of Congressional Record—House, February 12, 2009. These definitions are critical in understanding the content of the new HITECH privacy provisions and how they relate to existing HIPAA Administrative Simplification Privacy Rule standards. HIPAA Privacy Definitions: BreachBusiness AssociateCovered EntityDisclosureElectronic Health RecordHealth Care Operations Health Care ProviderHealth PlanNational CoordinatorPaymentPersonal Health RecordProtected Health Information SecretarySecurityStateTreatmentUseVendor Of Personal Health…
The Definition of Use
This posting is one of several that outline the HITECH privacy provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act that President Obama signed into law on Tuesday, February 17, 2009, in Denver, CO. Here, we reproduce the definitions that appear in Subtitle D—Privacy, Section 13400. Definitions, that appear in the Conference Report on page H1345 of Congressional Record—House, February 12, 2009. These definitions are critical in understanding the content of the new HITECH privacy provisions and how they relate to existing HIPAA Administrative Simplification Privacy Rule standards. HIPAA Privacy Definitions: BreachBusiness AssociateCovered EntityDisclosureElectronic Health RecordHealth Care Operations Health Care ProviderHealth PlanNational CoordinatorPaymentPersonal Health RecordProtected Health Information SecretarySecurityStateTreatmentUseVendor Of Personal Health…