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Recommended: The impact of computers on society
The use of computer technology plays a vital role in society. The use of it alone has made different task easier, by reducing time management, effort, and overall cost in completing a particular task. With the widely vast growth of computer technology in every field of life; the health care services are experiencing an immerse digital progression by the adoption of electronic health record systems through the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (Hitech Act). On February 17, 2009, Congress passed the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act enacted as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (HHS.gov,n.d.). The focal point of the legislation was to promote and expand …show more content…
Since this legislation anticipates a massive expansion in the exchange of electronic protected health information (Healthcareitnews,2015)., modifications were made in the Hipaa privacy and security rule under the Hitech act, which made the Hipaa compliance on privacy and security a lot stricter, with fines for restrictions on the use of personal data and data breaches not only for providers, but also hold their business associates and covered entities liable for any security breach. the Hitech Act support the concept of medical information delivery through electronical exchanges and proposed meaningful use throughout the health care delivery system as a goal. Meaningful use is the objective and measures that achieve goals of improved patient care outcomes and delivery through data captures and sharing, advance clinical processes, and improved patient outcomes. (Green,2015,p. …show more content…
The incentive payments started in 2011 and range close to $64,000 for Medicaid providers for a total of six years, and a total of 44,000 for Medicare in the first five years. With rewards comes penalties. The Hitech Act is not only about handing out monetary incentives, but the decision for a physician or a practice to not implement and electronic health record or simply delay the process by 2011 will result in penalization, and lost incentives. Beginning in 2015, physician will receive a reduction in Medicare part B (Green,2015,p.39). After 2017, Medicare part B payments will be adjusted down to 1 percent each
How would you like to keep track of your personal health information record in your computer at home? The electronic data exchange was one of the goals of the government to improve the delivery and competence of the U.S. healthcare system. To achieve this plan, the U.S. Congress passed a regulation that will direct its implementation. The Department of Health and Human Services is the branch of the government that was assigned to oversee the HIPAA rules. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996 is a national public law in the United States that was created to improve health insurability, prevent insurance abuse and to protect the privacy and security of a person’s health information.
– Health plans; – Health care clearinghouses;. – Health care providers who transmit health information in electronic form for certain standard transactions. Even though HIPAA was signed into law over seven years ago, its effects are mostly being felt now. This is because of its schedule of compliance. * 10/16/2002 - Transactions and code sets * 4/14/2003 – Privacy Rule * 4/14/2003 – Business Associates * 4/20/2005 – Security Rule This delay stems from a provision in the original act stating that if Congress did not specify certain regulations by the end of 1999, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) had to do it.
Under HITECH Act, the monetary penalties for HIPAA violations were increased. Civil penalties vary based on the type of violation. The minimum civil penalty is $100 up to a maximum of $50,000 for one violation if the covered entity was unaware of the violation and would have not known even if with reasonable diligence. The penalty range rises to $, 1000 to 50, 000 if the violation was due reasonable cause and not to willful neglect. If the violation was due to willful neglect, but is corrected within 30 days the penalty is at least $10,000 and up to $50,000. If the violation is due to willful neglect and is not corrected within 30 days the penalty is at least $50,000 with an annual maximum of $1.5 million per year. The omnibus final rules indicate that for all categories of violations of an identical provision in a calendar year, the maximum penalty is 1.5 million per year (Balser Group, 2014, p. 41). I believe that the settlements were fair because the UCLA clearly violated a lot of the HIPAA Privacy and Security rule such as failure to implement security measures, failure to provide adequate training to the employees, and violating the privacy of the patients’ health records.
The federal government has taken a stance to standardized care by creating incentive programs that are mandated under the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH) of 2009. This act encourages healthcare providers and healthcare institutions to adopt Meaningful use in order to receive incentives from Medicare and Medicaid. Meaningful use is the adoption of a certified health record system that acquires or obtains specified objectives about a patient. The objectives or measures are considered gold standard practices with the EHR system. Examples of the measures include data entry of vital signs, demographics, allergies, entering medical orders, providing patients with electronic copies of their records, and many more pertinent information regarding the patient (Friedman et al, 2013, p.1560).
US Congress created the HIPAA bill in 1996 because of public concern about how their private information was being used. It is the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, which Congress created to protect confidentiality, privacy and security of patient information. It was also for health care documents to be passed electronically. HIPAA is a privacy rule, which gives patients control over their health information. Patients have to give permission any health care provider can disclose any information placed in the individual’s medical records. It helps limit protected health information (PHI) to minimize the chance of inappropriate disclosure. It establishes national-level standards that healthcare providers must comply with and strictly investigates compliance related issues while holding violators to civil or criminal penalties if they violate the privacy of a person’s PHI. HIPAA also has boundaries for using and disclosing health records by covered entities; a healthcare provider, health plan, and health care clearinghouse. It also supports the cause of disclosing PHI without a person’s consent for individual healthcare needs, public benefit and national interests. The portability part of HIPAA guarantees patient’s health insurance to employees after losing a job, making sure health insurance providers can’t discriminate against people because of health status or pre-existing condition, and keeps their files safe while being sent electronically. The Privacy Rule protects individual’s health information and requires medical providers to get consent for the release of any medical information and explain how private health records are protected. It also allows patients to receive their medical records from any...
The U. S government passed the American Recovery Act in 2009 that established incentives and penalties to promote EHR use. From this legislation the Meaningful Use Program for EHR’s s was created. Through The Meaningful Use Program the U.S. government is able to support the adoption and use of EHR technology to enhance and revolutionize health care. The goal of the program is to increase EHR adoption, improve quality, safety, reduce disparities, and improve public health (hmsa , 2012).
Did you ever think about how much time is spent on computers and the internet? It is estimated that the average adult will spend over five hours per day online or with digital media according to Emarketer.com. This is a significant amount; taking into consideration the internet has not always been this easily accessible. The world that we live in is slowly or quickly however you look at it: becoming technology based and it is shifting the way we live. With each day more and more people use social media, shop online, run businesses, take online classes, play games, the list is endless. The internet serves billions of people daily and it doesn’t stop there. Without technology and the internet, there would be no electronic health record. Therefore, is it important for hospitals and other institutions to adopt the electronic health record (EHR) system? Whichever happens, there are many debates about EHR’s and their purpose, and this paper is going to explain both the benefits and disadvantages of the EHR. Global users of the internet can then decide whether the EHR is beneficial or detrimental to our ever changing healthcare system and technology based living.
...fines for breaches. There were federal grants and/or incentives for those organizations and individuals that chose to use the EHR via the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act. The people are so sure that the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act would work that they even provide incentives for training programs so that the people can be well educated and knowledgeable in regards to the EHR system. We all have medical records in some physician's office and we would like to know that our medical history is kept safe from those who does not have permission to access our information. Since the HITECH Act allows a variety of random audits, healthcare organizations and individuals will work harder to ensure that they are up to par on all of the federal guidelines in regards to their patients privacy and security.
“Meaningful Use” implemented in July, 2010, set criteria’s for physicians and hospitals to adhere, in order to qualify for certain financial incentives and to be deemed meaningful users (MU) of the EMR. Meaningful use in healthcare is defined as using certified electronic health record to improve quality, safety, efficiency, and reduce mortality and morbidity. There are 3 stages of meaningful use implementation. The requirements for the 3 stages are spread out over a period of 5 years. MU mandates that physicians meet 15 core objectives and hospitals meet 14 core objectives (Hoffman & Pudgurski, 2011). The goal is to in-cooperate the patient and family in their health, empower autonomy to make decisions while improving care in all population.
The HITECH Act is the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health act passed in 2009. The main points of the act concern security and the technology surrounding the Electronic Health Record (EHR) of each patient. They are in three stages:
Administrative Mandates, including the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act, ICD-10 and HIPAA 5010, are all part of administrative simplification and the need for systems optimiza...
Meaningful Use (MU) is defined as a healthcare provider’s usage of certified EHR technology in a way that can be measured largely in quality and in quantity. By establishing meaningful use using an Office of the National Coordinator (ONC) certified EHR program; healthcare providers can collect stimulus money, as arranged through the HITECH act of 2009. MU is designed to improve healthcare quality, efficiency, safety, and help to reduce health disparities. Also this helps to maintain privacy and security of patient healthcare information. (EHR Incentives & Certification, 2014)
Advances in technology have influences our society at home, work and in our health care. It all started with online banking, atm cards, and availability of children’s grades online, and buying tickets for social outings. There was nothing electronic about going the doctor’s office. Health care cost has been rising and medical errors resulting in loss of life cried for change. As technologies advanced, the process to reduce medical errors and protect important health care information was evolving. In January 2004, President Bush announced in the State of the Union address the plan to launch an electronic health record (EHR) within the next ten years (American Healthtech, 2012).
The objective of electronic health records (EHR) and health information technology (HIT) is to make health care more efficient and safer by providing both patients and health professionals alike with information to reduce duplication and promote preventive care, and inform decision-making. But many challenges arise for the adoption of these technologies, particularly in the medical community, traditionally reluctant to organizational and technological change. Also
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act was created to stimulate medicine and adopt as well as “meaningfully” use electronic health records within and across health organizations. This was to help improve patient outcomes and accountability, aid in coordination of care, promote effective health management across organizations, and align incentives with good patient and population outcomes.