Final answer:
The meaningful use of electronic health records (EHRs) is regulated under the HITECH Act and requires compliance with HIPAA regulations. Certification programs also play a role in guaranteeing basic standards and functionality in EHR programs.
Step-by-step explanation:
In order to guarantee basic standards and functionality in EHR programs, the meaningful use of electronic health records (EHRs) is regulated under the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act. This act provides incentives for healthcare providers to adopt and use EHRs in a meaningful way, such as by capturing and sharing patient data to improve care coordination and patient outcomes.
One important requirement for meaningful use is to comply with the standards and specifications established by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC), which includes ensuring the privacy and security of patient health information. This is done by adhering to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) regulations, which protect against unauthorized release of individually identifiable health information.
Certification programs, such as the Certification Commission for Health Information Technology (CCHIT) and the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC), also play a role in guaranteeing basic standards and functionality in EHR programs. These programs certify EHR software and systems that meet certain criteria, ensuring that they are capable of securely and accurately storing and transmitting patient data.