“The Basics” Frequently Asked Questions on Meaningful Use and the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act of 2009
Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society, 2010
The Basics
Q: What is ARRA?
A: The American Recovery & Reinvestment Act of 2009, signed into law by President Obama in February, 2009. The ARRA aims to stimulate the economy through investments in infrastructure, unemployment benefits, transportation, education, and healthcare. It includes over $20 billion to aid in the development of a robust IT infrastructure for healthcare and to assist providers and other entities in adopting and using health IT. You can read a summary of the health IT components of the law at the HIMSS website.
Q: What is HITECH?
A: The health IT sections of the ARRA law go under the acronym “HITECH”.
Q: What is the purpose of the Law?
A: Congress designed the legislation to improve US healthcare through the development of a solid health information infrastructure, while simultaneously stimulating the economy through new investment and job growth. Specifically, there are five broad goals: (a) improve quality, safety, efficiency, and reduce health disparities; (b) engage patients and families; (c) improve care coordination; (d) ensure adequate privacy & security protections for personal health information; and, (e) improve population and public health.
