What Are the Legal Aspects Involved in Healthcare Management
These are the reasons why the Master of Business Administration in Online Healthcare Administration at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke offers a course on legal and ethical issues. The online course explores the legal, political and ethical issues faced by healthcare professionals and patients in the healthcare system. In the context of physician accountability, the term “standard of care” refers to a process that a physician should follow when diagnosing or treating a patient. In health care, the “standard of care” is required for physicians, as failure to meet the requirements of the standard of care may constitute negligence. However, there are barriers to implementing the term “standard care” because it does not adequately define the concept of neglect in health care and other disciplines. The term was adopted in the context of medical negligence, but doctors have used the term innocent to undermine the defense in a court case (McConaty, 2011). Here are some of the key regulations that apply to the U.S. healthcare system. Over the past century, there have been a number of developments in medicine that have revolutionized the field of medical practice. This makes it possible to diagnose diseases faster and more accurately.
However, as new treatments are introduced and the field changes, healthcare professionals face new legal and ethical challenges. This blog gives you an overview of the topics of work in healthcare. The last major update to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) was more than seven years ago. However, we should expect significant legislative changes as the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) announced its new proposal in December 2020. The proposed updates focus on a patient`s right to access protected health information (PHI) while reducing barriers to health care operations and value-based reimbursement systems. UNCP`s online MBA program in Healthcare Administration includes a course on the legal and ethical issues facing healthcare providers. The course is taught by UNCP faculty and explores the legal, policy, and ethical issues facing health professionals. Other topics include government regulations, patient consent, human reproduction issues, fraud, and abuse. Compliance with legal and ethical guidelines is not only a practical way to avoid costly litigation. The laws that govern health care in the United States ensure that patients receive the care they need in a timely manner. Obeying the laws that govern health care can literally save lives.
Access to health services is also a key area of the social determinants of health. Barriers to accessing health care may be due to limited access to transportation or limited health resources, but the biggest barrier is lack of insurance coverage. The Affordable Care Act has helped increase coverage for a greater percentage of Americans. In addition, the Medicaid expansion aspects of the law have helped reduce inequalities in health care and access to care. However, not all states have expanded Medicaid. In 2021, we`ll see if the remaining 12 states adopt and implement Medicaid expansion, and what steps the Biden administration will take to pass legislation to expand coverage to more Americans. The elements of informed consent require that a patient be free from intimidation and inducement. It also includes a capacity that can be defined by the patient`s ability to make health care decisions and disclosures that provide the patient with the information needed to make informed health care decisions.
A patient must understand and appreciate the relevant information about his condition and make the decision to allow a doctor to fulfill his duty. HIPAA: This law protects patient privacy regarding medical treatments and records. It also aims to reduce healthcare fraud and includes guidelines on how patients can maintain health insurance coverage in certain situations. The doctrine of informed consent refers to the concept of self-sufficient approval of drugs by a physician. Prior to a medical procedure, legal informed consent should be obtained in order to modify consent in the context of institutional and social rules (Pozgar, 2012).