The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 signed by President Obama allocates 150 billion dollars to the U.S. health care sector.  Congress distributed these funds to a variety of different program areas, including, but not limited to: 

As exemplified in these allocations, the advancement of health care technology is of primary concern to the President and Congress.  As a corollary, increased attention has also been aimed at securing patient information and has manifested into reiterating and tightening the provisions of HIPAA.

 

A new section titled, Opportunity to Opt Out of Fundraising, includes language that strengthens the opt out requirements regarding written communications to grateful patients and their families.  This language is consistent with the existing HIPPA requirements.  A separate section of the legislation also increases the penalties for HIPAA violators.