Master’s Degree Tracks
Health Law & Policy Track

This course provides an in-depth look at contract law that focuses on drafting, interpreting, and modifying contracts. Emphasis will include enforcement and dispute resolution, including arbitration.

A survey of leading topics where ethical issues are prominent in health care delivery, including the “right to die,” genetic therapies and research, organ transplantation, and advances in biotechnology.

This course covers the fundamental approach under state and federal law for distinguishing employees and independent contractors, which is the common-law control test; and it explores how this approach and variations are applied for purposes of vicarious liability, workers’ compensation immunity, and classification and joint employment determinations under various state employment laws and a range of federal laws, including FLSA, FMLA, NLRA, IRC, SSA, and federal anti-discrimination statutes.

The laws and regulations that apply to data privacy, data security, and data breaches, including cybercriminal combat, privacy, and many other cybersecurity issues. Coverage will include security of sensitive information, such as employee records, financial data, and health information. After discussing the compliance requirements, students will develop a cyber risk mitigation strategy for their workplace.

An introduction to the detection of wrongdoing in the workplace, with an emphasis on the following key methods: investigations, monitoring, and auditing. Coverage includes essential investigation components and pitfalls, as well as the seven basic tools of auditing and monitoring.

In-depth coverage of ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements in two critical areas: 1) privacy and security of health care information under state and federal law, including HIPAA, HITECH Act, cybersecurity issues, and state breach notification laws; and 2) billing for health care services, including exposure under the federal False Claims Act and compliance audits under Medicare.

The changing landscape of how we pay for health care, consisting of Medicare, Medicaid, private insurance, and health insurance reform. Analysis of the current fee-for-service system and its alternatives, as well as the policies behind these models.

An overview of the balancing of employers’ legitimate monitoring and regulation of employees’ use of technology and other behavior, including off duty conduct, and individuals’ legally protected rights to privacy. Coverage includes issues relating to drug and alcohol testing, criminal and other backgrounds checks, technology, social media, and the cloud, inquiries regarding medical and other personal identifying information, and other inquires, searches, testing and monitoring.

This course is an introduction to the legal landscape governing the use of digital information and telecommunication technologies in patient care delivery. Coverage will include licensing and credentialing, technology, business models, contracts and governance issues impacting the rapidly growing global digital health industry.

An analysis of the corporate forms unique to health care, including liability and tax implications, as well as various certification and accreditation issues and Certificate of Need laws. Also covered are antitrust laws governing health care market participants, including direct care providers, hospitals, and other institutional providers, pharmaceutical companies, and other sellers of health care products, as well as insurers.

The core duties and liabilities in treatment relationships, including formation and termination of the relationship, informed consent, and malpractice liability, as well as licensure and scope of practice.