The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act seeks to improve American health care delivery and patient care through an unprecedented investment in Health IT (HIT). The provisions of the HITECH Act are specifically designed to work together to provide the necessary assistance and technical support to providers, enable coordination and alignment within and among states, establish connectivity to the public health community in case of emergencies, and assure the workforce is properly trained and equipped to be meaningful users of certified Electronic Health Records (EHRs). These programs collaboratively build the foundation for every American to benefit from an EHR as part of a modernized, interconnected, and vastly improved system of care delivery.

Title IV, Division B of the HITECH Act establishes incentive payments under the Medicare and Medicaid programs for EPs and EHs that meaningfully use Certified EHR Technology (CEHRT). CMS is charged with developing the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs.

The HITECH Act also amended several sections of the Social Security Act (SSA) and in doing so established the availability of incentive payments to EPs and EHs to promote the adoption and Meaningful Use of CEHRT.