Overview

The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act of 2009 (law) was enacted to improve health care delivery and patient care through an investment in health information technology (health IT).  The law included provisions to promote adoption of certified electronic health records (EHR) through financial incentives.  This federal policy has been key in spurring digitization in health care.  A decade later, health care providers are using electronic data and analytics to improve quality outcomes.  To address challenges associated with EHRs and data interoperability, Congress passed the 21st Century Cures Act in December 2016, legislation that covers many aspects of health care.  This includes enhancing interoperability by discouraging information blocking and creating a reporting system on EHR usability, functionality, and security.

EHR Adoption at a Glance

The MHCC conducts environmental scans of EHR adoption in the State. The following chart details EHR adoption rates by care setting in Maryland and the nation.

The following resources include more information about the current state of health IT in Maryland with some national comparisons:

• Insights Brief:  Use of Health Information Technology Among Dental Practices (2021)
• Health Information Technology:  An Assessment of Maryland Acute Care Hospitals (2019)

Additional Resources

• Health IT Playbook  
  Designed by The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) to help practices in selecting and implementing health IT, including best practices for EHRs and other health IT-related topics. 
• Promoting Interoperability (PI) Programs
  Renamed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in April 2018 with new focus on improving health data exchange. 
• The Quality Payment Program (QPP)
  Puts into place key aspects of the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA) using a framework that rewards health care providers for quality, and combines existing quality reporting programs (i.e., PQRS, value-Based Modifier, and Meaningful Use).
• Certified EHR Technology (CEHRT)
  EHR standards and other criteria established by CMS and ONC that are required for participation in the PI Programs and other quality reporting programs.
• Electronic Health Record Association (EHRA)
The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) EHRA address national efforts to create interoperable EHRs with the aim of improving quality of care and the productivity and sustainability of the health care system.