Which act authorized DHHS to create programs to improve health care quality, safety and efficiency through HIT and EHRs?

• A. ARRA
• B. Affordable Care Act
• C. HIPAA
• D. MIPPA

Answer: (A)

ARRA, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, includes the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH), which gave DHHS the authority and funding to create programs that promote the adoption and meaningful use of health information technology and electronic health records. This framework was designed to improve health care quality, safety, and efficiency by enabling better data sharing, interoperability, and data-driven care improvements. The other acts don’t carry that specific mandate: HIPAA focuses on privacy and security of health information; the Affordable Care Act centers on coverage expansion and broader health reform; MIPPA targets Medicare-related programs like medication therapy management. So ARRA with HITECH is the act that best fits the description.