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Lawmakers incorporated the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (H.R. 1), the economic stimulus bill that the President signed into law on February 17, 2009 (P.L. 111-5). The HITECH Act is intended to promote the widespread adoption of health information technology (HIT) to support the electronic sharing of clinical data among hospitals, physicians, and other health care stakeholders. HIT is widely viewed as a necessary and vital component of health care reform. It encompasses interoperable electronic health records (EHRs)including computerized systems to order tests and medications, and support systems to aid clinical decision makingand the development of a national health information network to permit the secure exchange of electronic health information among providers. The HITECH Act builds on existing federal efforts to encourage HIT adoption and use. It codifies the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONCHIT) within the Department of Health and Human Services. ONCHIT was created by Executive Order in 2004 and charged with developing and implementing a strategic plan to guide the nationwide implementation of health information technology (HIT) in the public and private health care sectors. ONCHIT has ...