What does HITECH provide in relation to patient rights?

HITECH, or the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act, significantly enhances patient rights concerning their Protected Health Information (PHI). One of the core goals of HITECH is to expand patients' rights, allowing individuals more control over their personal health information. This includes provisions that enhance privacy protections, enable patients to receive notifications if their information has been breached, and allow for more access to their electronic health records.

The focus on expanding rights under HITECH reflects the government's intent to encourage transparency in healthcare and empower patients to be more involved in their healthcare decisions. This act complements the HIPAA regulations by reinforcing patients' rights and ensuring that they have mechanisms in place to protect their health information further.

In relation to the other options, while increased penalties for noncompliance are indeed a part of HITECH, the emphasis on expanding patient rights is central to the intent of the legislation. Reducing reporting requirements or eliminating the need for consent does not align with HITECH's objectives, which are aimed at enhancing patient protections rather than decreasing them.