Final answer:
Healthcare institutions were required by HITECH to adopt electronic health records (EHR) systems by 2015 to avoid financial penalties. This aligns with the ACA's regulations to control healthcare costs by reducing administrative expenses and improving efficiency through digital record sharing. The correct answer is b. 2015.
Step-by-step explanation:
HITECH requires healthcare institutions to switch to some sort of electronic health records (EHR) system by 2015 to avoid financial penalties. The correct answer is b. 2015. This requirement is part of a broader effort to improve the quality and reduce the cost of healthcare in the U.S. The adoption of EHRs and other technological advancements in health care, such as telemedicine, is meant to contribute to these goals by enhancing the efficiency of healthcare providers and reducing administrative costs. This push for EHRs was also aligned with provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) designed to control increases in healthcare costs, portraying a move toward a more digitized and efficient healthcare system.
The sharing of digital records among health providers and the privacy of electronic healthcare information are crucial aspects of this technological transition. Electronic medical records (EMRs) are expected to play a significant role in reducing healthcare costs and are integral to modernizing healthcare delivery.