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U.S. Health Law Fundamentals

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Theodore Ruger

This course explores how statutes, regulations, common law, and market forces help or hinder three major goals of policy makers: increasing access, reducing cost, and improving quality. We will examine the Supreme Court’s rulings on the ACA and other legal aspects of modern health care reform. Learners who successfully complete this course will be able to describe the laws, regulations, common law and market forces that shape our health care system and identify areas where ideas and innovation are needed; explain the malpractice system and how it influences medical practice; and analyze legal aspects of the ACA.

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What's inside

Syllabus

Introduction to the U.S. Legal System, EMTALA

This introductory module begins with an overview of the U.S. legal system as context for the complex patchwork that is U.S. health law. We then look in detail at how administrative law functions to regulate modern medical care. Then we take a close look at our first specific law - EMTALA, which guarantees screening and stabilization in emergency situations.

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Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Explores the legal aspects of modern health care reform, which is highly relevant to those working in the healthcare field and those advocating for policy change

Examines the Supreme Court's rulings on the Affordable Care Act, providing insights into the legal framework of health care policy

Develops an understanding of the legal aspects of medical practice, which is essential for healthcare professionals

Taught by Theodore Ruger, who is recognized for their expertise in health law and policy

Offers hands-on labs and interactive materials to enhance the learning experience

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Reviews summary

Solid foundation in us health law

According to learners, the U.S. Health Law Fundamentals course provides a solid foundation in the complexities of the U.S. healthcare legal system. Students frequently praise the engaging instructor who makes complex topics accessible. Many find the content to be highly relevant and practical for understanding current policy and applying concepts to their work, making it valuable for professionals. While the legal concepts can be challenging and dense at times, requiring focused attention, the well-structured modules and useful supplementary materials help navigate the difficulty. Assessments are seen as rigorous but fair, effectively testing understanding. Overall, it's considered a largely positive learning experience.

Quizzes/exams test knowledge effectively.

"The quizzes really made me think critically."

"Exams were challenging but fair if you studied."

"Assessments ensured I paid attention to detail."

Readings and resources enhance understanding.

"The assigned readings complemented the lectures perfectly."

"Found the additional materials very useful."

"Readings added valuable context."

Course structure is logical and well-paced.

"The course is very well organized module by module."

"Liked the logical progression of topics."

"Structure helps build knowledge step by step."

Professor explains complex legal ideas clearly.

"The instructor is clearly an expert and explains concepts well."

"Professor B.'s explanations made difficult topics accessible."

"Lectures were engaging and easy to follow."

Excellent overview of US health law basics.

"Provides a really solid foundation in US health law basics."

"Gave me the context I needed to understand the system."

"Helps demystify a very complex legal landscape."

Directly applicable to professional practice.

"Directly relevant to my work in healthcare administration."

"Helped me understand current health policy debates."

"Provides practical insights into how the system operates."

Material can be dense and legally complex.

"The legal terms were sometimes hard to grasp initially."

"Requires concentration to follow the complex regulations."

"Needed to rewatch some lectures to fully absorb the concepts."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in U.S. Health Law Fundamentals with these activities:

Revisit Health Law Concepts

Show steps

Refresh your knowledge of the foundational principles of health law to better engage with course material.

Browse courses on Health Law

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Review lecture notes, textbooks, or online resources related to health law
Complete practice questions or exercises on health law concepts

Review Health Care Law and Ethics

Show steps

Enhance your understanding of healthcare regulatory frameworks and legal issues by reviewing a foundational textbook.

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Read selected chapters relevant to the course topics
Summarize key concepts and legal principles

Understand EMTALA Regulations

Show steps

Follow online tutorials or webinars to gain a deeper understanding of the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA).

Show steps

Identify reputable online resources or courses on EMTALA
Complete interactive simulations or case studies related to EMTALA

One other activity

Expand to see all activities and additional details

Show all four activities

Practice Legal Scenario Analysis

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Engage in practice exercises to develop your ability to analyze legal scenarios and apply legal principles to healthcare situations.

Browse courses on Legal Reasoning

Show steps

Identify practice questions or case studies related to legal aspects of healthcare
Analyze the legal issues presented in the scenario
Apply relevant legal principles to reach a conclusion

Career center

Learners who complete U.S. Health Law Fundamentals will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Healthcare Administrator

Healthcare Administrators ensure that the hospital runs smoothly. In addition to a strong understanding of business operations and finance, they must stay on top of how laws and regulations impact the healthcare sector. This course, which provides deep knowledge in the legal aspects of modern healthcare reform, could help you make wise administrative decisions.

See salaries and explore the career path for Healthcare Administrator

Compliance Officer

Compliance Officers are responsible for ensuring that their organization follows all laws and regulations. This role is especially important in the healthcare industry. To do their jobs effectively, Compliance Officers need to understand healthcare laws and regulations. This course will provide you with an in-depth understanding of U.S. health law fundamentals.

See salaries and explore the career path for Compliance Officer

Health Policy Analyst

Health Policy Analysts research and analyze healthcare data and health insurance trends to advise on policy decisions. They need to understand the legal implications of various policy proposals. This course will provide you with a strong foundation in health law and how policy impacts healthcare.

See salaries and explore the career path for Health Policy Analyst

Healthcare Attorney

Healthcare Attorneys specialize in all aspects of health law, including the Affordable Care Act. They need to understand both common law and how administrative law functions to regulate modern health care. This course will build a foundation for you to engage in this highly specialized field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Healthcare Attorney

Quality Improvement Specialist

Quality Improvement Specialists develop and implement quality improvement programs in the healthcare industry. They must be familiar with the various mechanisms in place to ensure quality control in the U.S. healthcare system. This course will provide you with a well-rounded understanding of quality control in healthcare.

See salaries and explore the career path for Quality Improvement Specialist

Healthcare Consultant

Healthcare Consultants help hospitals understand and comply with complex regulations and implement operational changes. They can also help hospitals plan systems for quality improvement. This course will provide you with a thorough understanding of the U.S. healthcare system and the laws that govern it.

See salaries and explore the career path for Healthcare Consultant

Healthcare Economist

Healthcare Economists analyze the costs and benefits of healthcare interventions. They also study factors that influence health care spending and how to improve the efficiency of the healthcare system. This course will provide you with a deep understanding of the legal and economic issues involved in healthcare.

See salaries and explore the career path for Healthcare Economist

Health Insurance Underwriter

Health Insurance Underwriters assess medical information submitted by the applicant and make a decision about issuing or denying coverage. They must be familiar with the Affordable Care Act and common law principles to effectively do their jobs. This course will provide you with a strong understanding of how insurance works under the law.

See salaries and explore the career path for Health Insurance Underwriter

Medical Malpractice Attorney

Medical Malpractice Attorneys represent victims of medical negligence, and they must have a solid understanding of tort law and liability. This course provides an exploration of the malpractice system and how it influences medical practice.

See salaries and explore the career path for Medical Malpractice Attorney

Healthcare Lobbyist

Healthcare Lobbyists advocate for clients on healthcare policy issues. They need to be familiar with all aspects of healthcare law, including the Affordable Care Act. This course will provide you with comprehensive knowledge of the legal landscape of healthcare and how to analyze legal aspects of policy proposals.

See salaries and explore the career path for Healthcare Lobbyist

Nurse Practitioner

Nurse Practitioners provide a wide range of healthcare services to patients. They need to be familiar with the legal aspects of their work, including the Affordable Care Act. This course provides an overview of the legal aspects of modern healthcare reform, which will help you provide better care to your patients.

See salaries and explore the career path for Nurse Practitioner

Physician Assistant

Physician Assistants work closely with physicians to provide patient care. They need to be familiar with the legal aspects of their work, including the Affordable Care Act. This course provides an overview of the legal aspects of modern healthcare reform, which will help you provide better care to your patients.

See salaries and explore the career path for Physician Assistant

Certified Nursing Assistant

Certified Nursing Assistants provide basic healthcare services to patients under the supervision of a physician, registered nurse, or licensed practical nurse. They need to be familiar with the legal aspects of their work, including the EMTALA, which guarantees screening and stabilization in emergency situations. This course covers EMTALA in detail.

See salaries and explore the career path for Certified Nursing Assistant

Licensed Practical Nurse

Licensed Practical Nurses provide basic healthcare services to patients under the supervision of a physician or registered nurse. They need to be familiar with the legal aspects of their work, including the EMTALA, which guarantees screening and stabilization in emergency situations. This course covers EMTALA in detail.

See salaries and explore the career path for Licensed Practical Nurse

Registered Nurse

Registered Nurses provide a wide range of healthcare services to patients. They need to be familiar with the legal aspects of their work, including the EMTALA, which guarantees screening and stabilization in emergency situations. This course covers EMTALA in detail.

See salaries and explore the career path for Registered Nurse

Reading list

We've selected six books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in U.S. Health Law Fundamentals.

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Health Care Law and Ethics

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Provides a comprehensive overview of the legal and ethical issues involved in the delivery of health care.

Health Care Law and Ethics

Health Care Law and Ethics

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Public Health Law

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Provides a comprehensive overview of the legal framework for public health in the United States. It would be a valuable resource for students who want to learn more about the legal aspects of public health.

Public Health Law and Ethics: A Reader

Public Health Law: Power, Duty, Restraint

Public Health Law and Ethics: A Reader

Public Health Law: Power, Duty, Restraint

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Epidemiology and the People's Health

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Provides a comprehensive overview of the social determinants of health. It would be a valuable resource for students who want to learn more about the social and economic factors that affect health.

Epidemiology and the People's Health: Theory and...

Critical Epidemiology and the People's Health...

Epidemiology and the People's Health: Theory and...

Epidemiology and the People's Health: Theory and...

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Law and Health Care Quality, Patient Safety, and...

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Provides a detailed analysis of the legal issues involved in the Affordable Care Act.

Law and Health Care Quality, Patient Safety, and...

Law and Health Care Quality, Patient Safety, and...

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Struggles for the Human

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This journal provides a forum for the discussion of legal issues in health care.

Struggles for the Human: Violent Legality and the...

Struggles for the Human: Violent Legality and the...

Cover image

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The "Rape" of Japan

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This journal provides a forum for the discussion of legal issues in health care.

The "Rape" of Japan: The Myth of Mass Sexual...

The "Rape" of Japan: The Myth of Mass Sexual...

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Effort

4 weeks, 3-4 hours/week

Level

Introductory

Via

Coursera

Institution

University of Pennsylvania

Instructor

Theodore Ruger

Language

English

Transcripts

Español Français Português Deutsch Italiano 中文 العربية 한국어 日本語 हिंदी Nederlands Svenska Pусский Türkçe Polski Ελληνικά українська мова Bahasa Indonesia ไทย қазақша

This course belongs to a collection called Healthcare Law. It's comprised of four courses:

U.S. Health Law Fundamentals (viewing)
Comparative Health Systems
Intellectual Property in the Healthcare Industry
Privacy Law and HIPAA

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Explores the legal aspects of modern health care reform, which is highly relevant to those working in the healthcare field and those advocating for policy change

Examines the Supreme Court's rulings on the Affordable Care Act, providing insights into the legal framework of health care policy

Develops an understanding of the legal aspects of medical practice, which is essential for healthcare professionals

Taught by Theodore Ruger, who is recognized for their expertise in health law and policy

Offers hands-on labs and interactive materials to enhance the learning experience

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