HIT Licensing: A Case Study

In 2009, President Obama signed the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act to promote meaningful use of health information technology (Jha, 2015). Before the HITECH Act was passed, only about 17% of U.S. doctors and about 9% of U.S. hospitals were using an EHR according to Jha (2015). During 2013, the percentages increased to

The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH Act) was passed as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act on February 17, 2009. The road to patient-centered care was paved with the passing of the HITECH act, which authorized incentive payments through Medicare and Medicaid to clinicians and hospitals when they use EHRs privately and securely to achieve specified improvements in care delivery. If providers do not become meaningful users of EHRs by 2015, penalties will be triggered through reduced Medicare payments. These provisions aim to create a nationwide electronic health system that is efficient and secure to improve health outcomes and lower the cost of healthcare. To accomplish these

If you are interested in an exciting career in health information management or getting started in your new career in HIM, then this is your guide to career development, improved salary, and greater success in your chosen profession. Receiving an AHIMA credential puts you in a unique organization. AHIMA credentials are earned through a stimulating platform through extensive education, experience, and maintained through endless review and continuing education. The experience, cost, and education requirements vary between the different AHIMA credentials that are available for you to obtain. Some benefits of attaining the AHIMA certification credentials are demonstrated capabilities, successful income, and devotion to high standards of care, quality,

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 identified three main components of meaningful use: the use of a certified EHR in a meaningful manner, electronic exchange of health information to improve quality of care, and the use of technology to submit clinical outcomes and quality measures (Heath Resources and Service Administration, n.d.). ARRA includes many measures to modernize our nation’s infrastructure, with the “Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act” being an example. The HITECH Act is an effort led by Centers for Medicare and Medicare Services (CMS) in support of electronic health records and meaningful use (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC 2016). According to Galbraith (2013), the HITECH Act aims to promote the use of EHRs by providing over $27 billion in monetary incentives for health care providers that become “meaningful users”. CMS uses these core objectives to determine if a health care provider has satisfied meaningful use and is eligible to receive financial incentives (Galbraith, 2013).

Background: The Federal Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) identified five goals for adopting health information technology (HIT) into the current health care systems that would significantly improve healthcare in America. (Abdelhak, Grostick, & Hanken, 2012, p. 82) These goals will help improve the quality of care within the federal health system by reducing medical errors, cost, and duplication of workload.

The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act is part of the American Reinvestment & Recovery Act (ARRA) signed into law by President Obama on February 17, 2009. The HITECT Act introduced the concept of ‘meaningful use’ which incentivized the adoption of electronic health records (EHR) for the overall improvement of healthcare. This act authorized payments to qualified provider groups that meet the 'meaning use ' requirements that are paid out over five year. According to data from the National Ambulatory Medical care Survey, 57% of office based physicians’ utilized EHR system as of 2011 and 52% of this physician plan to apply for the meaningful use incentives in same year. This is a 11% increase from the year before.

They do this by providing resources such as credentials; textbook’ meetings; online education; etc. to improve the HIM professionals knowledge and skills. The AHIMA has taken a lead in evolving information, data analytics, and informatics for healthcare. All while continuing to support and lead the best quality HIM practices and standards. AHIMA offers many certification the categories are HIM, coding, and specialty certification. Within the HIM credentials they offer Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA) and Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT). The coding category includes Certified Coding Associate (CCA); Certified Coding Specialist (CCS); and Certified Coding Specialist-Physician-based (CCS-P). The specialty certifications include Certified Health Data Analyst (CHDA); Certified in Healthcare Privacy and Security (CHPS); Certified Documentation Improvement Practitioner (CDIP); and Certified Professional in Health Informatics

Hoffman & Podgurski (2011) reported EHR systems will not be beneficial if clinicians do not utilize the system's full potential. Processes within the system need to be evaluated and assessed constantly for potential safety issues. HIT has the capability to do this through thorough testing and re-testing prior to implementation. HIT contributions to a culture of safety can help improve patient care through education, communication and appropriate use of guidelines that endorses approved

The ARRA includes the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act, which pursues to improve American Healthcare and patient care through an extraordinary investment in Healthcare IT (HIT). The requirements of the HITECH Act are precisely designed to work jointly to provide the necessary assistance and technical operation to providers, enable grammatical relation and organization within and among states, establish connectivity in case of emergencies, and see to it the workforce is properly trained and equipped to be meaningful users of certified Electronic Health Records (EHRs). These computer software products are designed collaboratively to intensify the footing for every American to profit from an electronic health record (EHR) as part of a modernized, interrelated, and vastly improved grouping of care delivery.

In 2009, the HITECH Act was formulated to increase the implementation of EHR’s and reinforcing technology with the U.S. The HITECH was signed into law and it is considered as a portion of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. THE HITECH ACT provided the ONC the right to administer and place standards on the stimulus program. Also, it created grants designed for training centers for the employees that needed to reinforce and support all new health IT foundation within the healthcare organizations.

Other healthcare organizations have integrated the design of healthcare technologies within the organization. For such organizations, the CIO takes part in the analysis and assessments of the proposed healthcare information technology (HIT) applications. The CIO further manages the development, design and implementation of the HITs. In addition, healthcare organizations are rapidly acquiring HITs. Therefore, there is an increasing need to train the healthcare staff to ensure they can use the systems. The CIO, therefore, plans and supervises the development of training methods for the management and technical staff on the use and possible maintenance of the HITs (Tan, Payton, & Tan, 2010).

The Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT [ONC], on behalf of the US Department of Health and Human Services [HHS] Secretary, establishes criteria, standards, and specifications that health information technology [IT] must follow in order to meet minimum requirements for certification. The ONC oversees the certification of electronic health technology and oversees the ONC Health IT Certification Program [Program]. The Program was enacted in order to determine whether products meet set standards and criteria to be considered certified. Certification is important for health IT because it ensures that products are functional, capable, and secure in order to meet the requirements of Meaningful Use. Healthcare providers must demonstrate that they are “meaningfully using” health IT in order to receive incentive payments.

As the License Certificate holder, Ms. Eneva is responsible to ensure full compliance with the Real Estate rules and regulations pertaining to the accuracy of the licensing broker reflected on the NMLS. Furthermore, we will not be held responsible or liable in any way for misrepresentation, noncompliance, or the failure to remove Guild as corresponding licensing

Internal stakeholders, investors should know going into the business the assumed cost of licensing and accreditation. Also, working within the system of the government to exact laws changing the rules regarding telemedicine, for example doctors can only practice in the state they reside in or for each hospital the doctor is affiliated with they must have a license for that hospital (Tangorra, 2015). If you are affiliated with 25 hospitals you will need 25 licenses. Therefore, the proper resources must be set aside or addressed regarding how each telehealth care worker must have the appropriate accreditation for telemedicine regardless of their regular medical training.

Electronic health records (EHR’s) have many advantages, but there are plenty of disadvantages. EHR’s were created to manage the many aspects of healthcare information. Medical professionals use them daily and most would feel lost without it. Healthcare organizations were encouraged to adopt EHR’s in 2009 due to the fact that a bill passed known as The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH Act). “The HITECH Act outlines criteria to achieve “meaningful use” of certified electronic records. These criteria must be met in order for providers to receive financial incentives to promote adoption of EHRs as an integral part of their daily practice”, (Conrad, Hanson, Hasenau & Stocker-Schneider, 2012).