Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA) Practice Exam

Which federal act requires physicians to utilize Health Information Exchange (HIE)?

1. Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH)

2. Affordable Care Act (ACA) of 2010

3. Federal Health Improvement Act

4. Medicare Modernization Act

The correct answer is: Affordable Care Act (ACA) of 2010

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) of 2010 is primarily known for its efforts to increase access to healthcare and reduce healthcare costs, but it does not specifically mandate the use of Health Information Exchange (HIE) by physicians. Instead, the correct act related to the utilization of HIE is the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act. HITECH, which is part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, was specifically designed to promote the adoption and meaningful use of health information technology, including the implementation of HIE among healthcare providers. The HITECH Act encourages healthcare providers to invest in electronic health records (EHR) systems and emphasizes the secure and efficient exchange of health information across different entities. This initiative not only supports clinical decision-making and improves patient care but also promotes interoperability of health information systems, which is crucial for effective HIE. In summary, HITECH is the act that establishes requirements and provides incentives for physicians to adopt health information exchanges, while the ACA focuses more broadly on healthcare reform.