Certified Healthcare Technology Specialist (CHTS) Process Workflow & Information Management Redesign Practice Exam

Which patient right is emphasized in HITECH regarding healthcare payments and claims?

1. Right to an unrestricted choice of providers

2. Right to pay in full and prevent claim submissions

3. Right to free healthcare services in emergencies

4. Right to an expedited billing process

The correct answer is: Right to pay in full and prevent claim submissions

The emphasis on the right to pay in full and prevent claim submissions in HITECH highlights a fundamental aspect of patient autonomy regarding their healthcare choices and financial responsibilities. HITECH (Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act) was designed to improve healthcare in various key areas, including privacy and security of healthcare information as well as patient control over their health data. In terms of payments and claims, this right allows patients the ability to pay for services directly, thereby opting out of traditional insurance claims and the complexities that come with them. By exercising this right, patients retain control over their healthcare transactions and can prevent potentially unwanted disclosures to insurers or other third-party entities. This aspect of patient rights is particularly important in an environment where individuals may want to avoid having their healthcare information shared widely or may not want their insurance premiums or coverage impacted by certain health services they seek. The focus on this right aligns with larger movements toward patient empowerment, promoting transparency, and encouraging informed decision-making regarding personal health care expenditures. The other options, while they touch on important aspects of patient rights, do not directly reflect the emphasis of HITECH in terms of payment and claim processes as clearly as the right to pay in full and prevent claim submissions.