The HHS Implementation Plan for the HITECH Act

The HHS HITECH Act Technology Implementation Plan. The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) has a broad role in the implementation of multiple health and welfare plans addressed by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). In order to manage and coordinate its many obligations under ARRA, HHS established the Office of Recovery Act Coordination. This office is responsible for ensuring that ARRA programs are designed to best meet ARRA objectives and reporting due dates, to establish and track performance outcomes, mitigate the risks of fraud and abuse, and to keep the public informed through the Web and other means of communication. The Office of Recovery Act Coordination released a 291-page implementation plan to address each aspect of HHS responsibilities under the ARRA, including a distinct Act within ARRA focused on health information technology, privacy and security. This Act is titled, “Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act(HITECH Act).

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