Health Care Law Overview
Health Care Law Resources
Related Practice Areas
Health care aims to prevent and treat illness and disease in order to maintain the physical and mental well-being of individuals. Nearly all industrialized nations provide universal, publicly-funded health care through a national system. The exception is the United States, where health care is largely provided by the private sector, although some public services are available for certain individuals.
State statutes comprise a large portion of law applicable to health care. State health care law ranges from regulation of the health insurance industry to rules governing cases of medical malpractice. State agencies and departments are usually responsible for implementing state health laws and regulations, as well as administering certain federally-funded health care programs.
Show Extended SummaryLegislation 
- Bill Sent To President: H.R.5919 To make technical corrections regarding the Newborn Screening ...
To make technical corrections regarding the Newborn Screening Saves Lives Act of 2007.
May 02, 2008: Cleared for White House.
(April 30, 2008) - Bill Sent To President: H.R.493 Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008
To prohibit discrimination on the basis of genetic information with respect to health insurance and employment.
May 01, 2008: Cleared for White House.
(April 29, 2008) - Bill Enacted: S.793 Traumatic Brain Injury Act of 2008
A bill to provide for the expansion and improvement of traumatic brain injury programs.
April 28, 2008: Became Public Law No: 110-206.
(April 26, 2008) - Bill Introduced: S.2921 Caring for Wounded Warriors Act of 2008
A bill to require pilot programs on training and certification for family caregiver personal care attendants for veterans and members of the Armed Forces with traumatic brain injury, to require a pilot program on provision of respite care to such veterans and members, and for other purposes.
(April 26, 2008) - Bill Enacted: S.1858 Newborn Screening Saves Lives Act of 2007
A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to establish grant programs to provide for education and outreach on newborn screening and coordinated followup care once newborn screening has been conducted, to reauthorize programs under part A of title XI of such Act, and for other purposes.
April 24, 2008: Became Public Law No: 110-204.
(April 22, 2008)
Regulations
- Rule - Medicare Program: Prospective Payment System for Long-Term Care Hospitals RY 2009: ...
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
Rule
Medicare Program: Prospective Payment System for Long-Term Care Hospitals RY 2009:
Annual Payment Rate Updates, Policy Changes and Clarifications,
26788-26874 [08-1219]
Part III Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services 42 CFR Part 412 Medicare Program; Prospective Payment System for Long-Term Care Hospitals RY 2009: Annual Payment Rate Updates, Policy Changes, and Clarifications; and Electronic Submission of Cost Reports: Revision to Effective Date of Cost Reporting Period; Final Rule DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services 42 CFR Part 412 [CMS-1393-F and CMS-1199-F] RINs... [read document]
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(May 8, 2008) - Proposed Rule - Medicare Program; Prospective Payment System and Consolidated Billing for ...
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
Proposed Rule
Medicare Program; Prospective Payment System and Consolidated Billing for Skilled Nursing Facilities for FY 2009,
25918-25960 [08-1214]
Part III Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services 42 CFR Part 413 Medicare Program; Prospective Payment System and Consolidated Billing for Skilled Nursing Facilities for FY 2009; Proposed Rule DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services 42 CFR Part 413 [CMS-1534-P] RIN 0938-AP11 Medicare Program; Prospective Payment System and Consolidated Billing for Skilled Nursing Facilities for FY 2009 AGENCY: Centers for... [read document]
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(May 6, 2008) - Rule - Certain Other Dosage Form New Animal Drugs; Sevoflurane
Food and Drug Administration
Rule
Certain Other Dosage Form New Animal Drugs; Sevoflurane,
25507-25508 [E8-10153]
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Food and Drug Administration 21 CFR Part 529 Certain Other Dosage Form New Animal Drugs; Sevoflurane AGENCY: Food and Drug Administration, HHS. ACTION: Final rule. SUMMARY: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is amending the animal drug regulations to reflect approval of an abbreviated new animal drug application (ANADA) filed by Minrad, Inc. The ANADA provides for the use of sevoflurane inhalant anesthetic in dogs. DATES: This rule is effective May 7,... [read document]
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(May 6, 2008) - Rule - Medicare Program; Changes for Long-Term Care Hospitals Required by Certain Provisions of ...
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
Rule
Medicare Program; Changes for Long-Term Care Hospitals Required by Certain Provisions of the Medicare, Medicaid, SCHIP Extension Act of 2007:
3-Year Delay in the Application of Payment Adjustments for Short Stay Outliers and Changes to the Standard Federal Rate,
24871-24881 [08-1217]
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services 42 CFR Part 412 [CMS-1493-IFC] RIN 0938-AP33 Medicare Program; Changes for Long-Term Care Hospitals Required by Certain Provisions of the Medicare, Medicaid, SCHIP Extension Act of 2007: 3-Year Delay in the Application of Payment Adjustments for Short Stay Outliers and Changes to the Standard Federal Rate AGENCY: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), HHS. ACTION: Interim final rule with comment... [read document]
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(May 5, 2008) - Rule - Food Labeling: Health Claims; Soluble Fiber from Certain Foods and Risk of Coronary ...
Food and Drug Administration
Rule
Food Labeling:
Health Claims; Soluble Fiber from Certain Foods and Risk of Coronary Heart Disease,
23947-23953 [E8-9590]
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Food and Drug Administration 21 CFR Part 101 [Docket No. FDA-2006-P-0405] (formerly Docket No. 2006P-0069) Food Labeling: Health Claims; Soluble Fiber from Certain Foods and Risk of Coronary Heart Disease AGENCY: Food and Drug Administration, HHS. ACTION: Final rule. SUMMARY: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is amending its regulation authorizing a health claim on the relationship between soluble fiber from certain foods and risk of coronary heart... [read document]
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(April 30, 2008)
Government
- Notice - Pilot Program to Evaluate Proposed Name Submissions; Concept Paper
Food and Drug Administration
Notice
Pilot Program to Evaluate Proposed Name Submissions; Concept Paper,
27001-27002 [E8-10513]
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Food and Drug Administration [Docket No. FDA-2008-N-0281] Pilot Program to Evaluate Proposed Name Submissions; Concept Paper; Public Meeting AGENCY: Food and Drug Administration, HHS. ACTION: Notice of public meeting; request for comments. SUMMARY: The Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) and the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER) of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are announcing a public technical meeting in preparation... [read document]
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(May 11, 2008) - Notice - Development of Set 22 Toxicological Profiles
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
Notice
Development of Set 22 Toxicological Profiles,
26995-26996 [E8-10472]
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry [ATSDR-242] Development of Set 22 Toxicological Profiles AGENCY: Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). ACTION: Notice of Development of Set 22 Toxicological Profiles. SUMMARY: This notice announces the development of Set 22 Toxicological Profiles. Set 22 Toxicological Profiles consists of one new draft and five updated drafts. These profiles... [read document]
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(May 11, 2008) - Notice - OMNARIS
Food and Drug Administration
Notice
OMNARIS,
26999-27000 [E8-10466]
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Food and Drug Administration [Docket No. FDA-2007-E-0398] (formerly Docket No. 2007E-0131) Determination of Regulatory Review Period for Purposes of Patent Extension; OMNARIS AGENCY: Food and Drug Administration, HHS. ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has determined the regulatory review period for OMNARIS and is publishing this notice of that determination as required by law. FDA has made the determination because of the... [read document]
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(May 11, 2008) - Notice - Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposals, Submissions, and Approvals
Food and Drug Administration
Notice
Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposals, Submissions, and Approvals,
26998-26999 [E8-10467]
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Food and Drug Administration [Docket No. FDA-2008-N-0271] Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Consumer Survey on the Impact of Perceptions of the 2006 Spinach Recall on Current Spinach Consumption AGENCY: Food and Drug Administration, HHS. ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing an opportunity for public comment on the proposed collection of certain information by the... [read document]
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(May 11, 2008) - Notice - Determination of Regulatory Review Period for Purposes of Patent Extension; VECTIBIX
Food and Drug Administration
Notice
Determination of Regulatory Review Period for Purposes of Patent Extension; VECTIBIX,
27000-27001 [E8-10512]
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Food and Drug Administration [Docket No. FDA-2007-E-0047] (formerly Docket No. 2007E-0139) Determination of Regulatory Review Period for Purposes of Patent Extension; VECTIBIX AGENCY: Food and Drug Administration, HHS. ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has determined the regulatory review period for VECTIBIX and is publishing this notice of that determination as required by law. FDA has made the determination because of the... [read document]
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(May 11, 2008)
Articles
- The Secret Life of 42 CFR Part 2 - What Every Defender and Investigator Needs to Know About ...
The Champion, Vol. 30, No. 34, April 2006 Rose Jade Rose Jade, Attorney Date Posted: May 12, 2008 Last Revised: May 12, 2008
(May 11, 2008) - Open Source Biotechnology: A Drug for Developing Countries' Health Problems?
Maurice H.M. Schellekens Tilburg University - Faculty of Law (TILT) Date Posted: May 12, 2008 Last Revised: May 12, 2008
(May 11, 2008) - The Unexpected Effect of Tort Reform: Do Caps Accelerate Settlements?
Ronen Avraham and Alvaro E. Bustos Northwestern University - School of Law and Northwestern University - School of Law Date Posted: May 12, 2008 Last Revised: May 12, 2008
(May 11, 2008) - Socially Responsible Investment Law: Regulating the Unseen Polluters
Benjamin J. Richardson York University - Osgoode Hall Law School Date Posted: May 12, 2008 Last Revised: May 12, 2008
(May 11, 2008) - Putting Ethics into Environmental Law: Fiduciary Duties for Ethical Investment
Benjamin J. Richardson York University - Osgoode Hall Law School Date Posted: May 1, 2008 Last Revised: May 11, 2008
(May 10, 2008)
News
- Unions Retooling Message in Effort to Organize Nurses
The Heartland Institute, IL - 3 hours ago
Todd D. Wozniak (wozniakt@gtlaw.com), of Greenberg Traurig, LLP, is a labor/employment and health care law attorney.
(May 11, 2008) - Graduates may find 2008 job market a few degrees cooler
Boston Globe, United States - 1 hour ago
As a result, healthcare, technology, education, and financial services sectors are all actively recruiting entry-level workers, she said. ...
(May 11, 2008)
Ethical Corporation Magazine
Southern Africa healthcare – Reaching parts other brands ignore
Ethical Corporation Magazine, UK - 7 hours ago
Belgian and French colonial law in Africa had dictated that companies cover all healthcare costs for employees and dependents. ...
(May 11, 2008)- Mintz Levin's Bankruptcy Practice Adds Stuart Hirshfield
Centre Daily Times, PA - 8 hours ago
His debtor-in-possession financings include the bankruptcies of Sun Healthcare and DeVleig Bullard and the representation of investors and creditors in ...
(May 11, 2008) - Letters: Speeding ticket; Health-care team; Bulk pickup
The Reporter, WI - 15 hours ago
How grateful to the people of Agnesian HealthCare and the Fond du Lac community are this man and woman and the entire sister community of Rosita. ...
(May 11, 2008)
Blog Posts
- Who Uses the ER?
The New York Times reports today on a study showing that the overcrowding that occurs in emergency rooms does not result from an increasing number of insured patients. It is often said that emergency rooms are crowded because of the...
(May 7, 2008) - Miami Pharmacy Owner of Convicted of Medicare Fraud, Co-defendant Acquitted
After a six day trial in Miami, a federal jury in Miami convicted Gustavo Smith, 43, the owner of a Miami pharmacy for his role in a $3 million Medicare fraud scheme and for money laundering of all 17 counts charged against him in the September 2007 Indictment. The charges included: conspiracy to defraud the U.S. government, to commit health care fraud, and to submit false claims to the Medicare program; seven counts of health care fraud; seven counts of submitting false claims to the Medicare...
(May 7, 2008) - Information Letters: TILE to RUG Transitions, Living Options
The Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) released three new information letters: Helpful Nursing Facility Provider Information for the TILEs to RUGs Transition DADS informed Nursing Facility and Hospice Providers about the September 1, 2008, transition from the Texas Index for Level of Effort (TILE) to the federal Resource Utilization Group (RUG). DADS says it is essential for providers to monitor future updates on the Texas Medicaid & Healthcare Partnership website at...
(May 7, 2008) - Politics of Health Reform
Ezra Klein has a great piece entitled, "The Elusive Politics of Reform," and writes about the various options to reform our health care system. He starts with a brief statement on why the United States should be focused on reforming...
(May 7, 2008) - Ortho Evra Recall Requested By Public Citizen Due To Blood Clot Risks
Women Have Developed Serious Side Effects Like Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) and Pulmonary Embolism (PE) After Using This Birth Control Patch (Posted by Tom Lamb at DrugInjuryWatch.com) On May 8, 2008 Public Citizen's Health Research Group (HRG) sent its "Petition to the FDA to Ban Ortho-Evra" to Commissioner Andrew von Eschenbach. In this 11-page letter, Sidney Wolfe, M.D., the Director of HRG, discusses the increased risk of blood clots and serious side effects associated with Johnson &...
(May 7, 2008)