HITECH
high-tek
The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act of 2009, a U.S. law that promotes the adoption and meaningful use of health information technology, including electronic health records (EHRs). It also strengthened HIPAA privacy and security protections for patient data.
The hospital upgraded its electronic health records system to meet HITECH requirements and avoid financial penalties.
HITECH has major implications in healthcare and legal practice. It expanded HIPAA enforcement, increased penalties for breaches of protected health information, and required notification of data breaches. For legal professionals, HITECH is significant when advising healthcare clients on compliance, handling litigation involving data privacy, or managing cases where electronic health records are central to the dispute.