Heathcare policy and regulation
Health information technology policy and regulation encompass guidelines, standards and laws designed to govern the use, management, exchange and protection of electronic health information. Read how federal, state and local rulemaking ensures data privacy, improves healthcare outcomes, enhances system efficiency, and maintains data security.
Top Stories
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Feature
24 Aug 2023
How NCQA is Driving Health Equity Through Inclusive HEDIS Measures
NCQA recently removed gendered language from several HEDIS measures to drive care access and health equity for LGBTQ+ individuals. Continue Reading
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Definition
05 Feb 2024
ICD-10 (International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision)
The International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD-10), is a global standard for classifying and coding mortality and morbidity data. Continue Reading
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Feature
24 Aug 2023
How NCQA is Driving Health Equity Through Inclusive HEDIS Measures
NCQA recently removed gendered language from several HEDIS measures to drive care access and health equity for LGBTQ+ individuals. Continue Reading
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Definition
08 Apr 2022
pharmaceutical detailing
Pharmaceutical detailing is a 1:1 marketing technique pharmaceutical companies use to educate a physician about a vendor's products, hoping that the physician will prescribe the company's products more often. Continue Reading
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Definition
05 Apr 2021
protected health information (PHI) or personal health information
Protected health information (PHI), also referred to as personal health information, is the demographic information, medical histories, test and laboratory results, mental health conditions, insurance information and other data that a healthcare professional collects to identify an individual and determine appropriate care. Continue Reading
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Definition
28 Aug 2020
HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act)
HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) is United States legislation that provides data privacy and security provisions for safeguarding medical information. Continue Reading
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Definition
31 Dec 2018
Meaningful Use
In the context of health IT, meaningful use is a term used to define minimum U.S. government standards for electronic health records (EHR), outlining how clinical patient data should be exchanged between healthcare providers, between providers and insurers and between providers and patients. Continue Reading
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Definition
29 Oct 2018
ICD-10-CM (Clinical Modification)
The ICD-10-CM (Clinical Modification) is a system used by physicians and other healthcare providers to classify and code all diagnoses, symptoms and procedures recorded in conjunction with hospital care in the United States. Continue Reading
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Definition
30 Jan 2018
HITECH (Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health) Act of 2009
The HITECH (Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health) Act of 2009 is legislation that was created to stimulate the adoption of electronic health records (EHR) and the supporting technology in the United States. Continue Reading
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Definition
29 Dec 2017
accountable care organization (ACO)
An accountable care organization (ACO) is an association of hospitals, healthcare providers and insurers in which all parties voluntarily assume financial and medical responsibility for Medicare patients. Continue Reading
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Definition
27 Nov 2017
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA, ACA or Obamacare)
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (more commonly referred to as the Affordable Care Act, ACA or Obamacare) is a healthcare law passed by Congress in 2010 during the administration of President Barack Obama. Continue Reading
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Definition
30 Oct 2017
ONC (Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology)
The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, abbreviated ONC, is an entity within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Continue Reading
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Definition
18 Aug 2017
MACRA (Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015)
MACRA (Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015) is U.S. healthcare legislation that provides a new framework for reimbursing clinicians who successfully demonstrate value over volume in patient care. Continue Reading
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Definition
28 Mar 2017
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Promoting a healthy general public and sharing data about chronic diseases are main goals of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Continue Reading
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Definition
21 Mar 2017
American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA)
The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) is a professional organization that promotes the business and clinical uses of electronic and paper-based medical information. Continue Reading
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Definition
06 Sep 2016
meaningful use stage 3
Meaningful use stage 3 is the third phase of the federal incentive program that details requirements for the use of electronic health record systems by hospitals and eligible healthcare professionals. However, the new MACRA law will change the overall meaningful use program, which may eventually lessen stage 3's influence. Continue Reading
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Definition
01 Sep 2016
US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is a cabinet-level agency in the executive branch of the federal government. Its mission is to enhance and protect the well-being of all Americans by providing effective health and human services and fostering advances in medicine, public health and social services. Continue Reading
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Definition
29 Aug 2016
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is the wing of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that runs healthcare reimbursement and health IT programs. Continue Reading
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Definition
25 Jun 2015
HL7 (Health Level Seven International)
HL7 (Health Level Seven International) is a set of standards, formats and definitions for exchanging and developing electronic health records (EHRs). Continue Reading
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Definition
05 Dec 2014
ICD-9-CM (International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification)
ICD-9-CM is the current medical coding standard used in hospitals in the United States. It is scheduled to be replaced by ICD-10 by Oct. 1, 2015. Continue Reading