American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) Practice Exam

Which of the following is a primary purpose of HITECH?

1. To reduce healthcare provider liability

2. To expand the use of electronic medical records

3. To support telemedicine directly

4. To limit the use of health information

The correct answer is: To expand the use of electronic medical records

The primary purpose of HITECH, the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act, is to expand the use of electronic medical records (EMRs). HITECH was initiated to promote the adoption of health information technology, particularly electronic health records (EHRs), thereby enhancing the quality of care and facilitating the transition from paper records to electronic systems. This shift aims to improve efficiency, accessibility, and the overall management of patient information. By incentivizing healthcare providers to implement and meaningfully use EHRs, HITECH seeks to enable the sharing of patient data among various healthcare stakeholders. This facilitates better care coordination, enhances patient safety, and ultimately leads to improved health outcomes. The legislation also includes provisions for data exchange, privacy protections, and providing funding to assist healthcare organizations in transitioning to electronic systems. Other options do not capture the core objective of HITECH as effectively; hence, they do not represent its primary function.