This course is part of the Healthcare Law Specialization

Theodore Ruger

Offered By

Healthcare Law SpecializationUniversity of Pennsylvania

About this Course

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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.

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

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Course 1 of 4 in the

Healthcare Law Specialization

Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Beginner Level

Approx. 10 hours to complete

English

Subtitles: English

What you will learn

Identify the distinguishing features of the American healthcare system and the role of administrative law in modern medical care

Understand the history, scope, and limits of conscientious objection

Define the basic medical malpractice standard used in the U.S. legal system

Understand the role of the federal government in administering Medicare and Medicaid

Skills you will gain

Healthcare ManagementHealth Policy AnalysisHealth InsuranceAffordable Care Act

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Course 1 of 4 in the

Healthcare Law Specialization

Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Beginner Level

Approx. 10 hours to complete

English

Subtitles: English

Instructor

Instructor rating

5/5 (24 Ratings)

Theodore Ruger

Dean and Bernard G. Segal Professor of Law

Penn Law

126,709 Learners

2 Courses

Offered by

University of Pennsylvania

The University of Pennsylvania (commonly referred to as Penn) is a private university, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. A member of the Ivy League, Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States, and considers itself to be the first university in the United States with both undergraduate and graduate studies.

Syllabus - What you will learn from this course

Week

Week 1

3 hours to complete

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.

3 hours to complete

6 videos (Total 65 min), 3 readings, 1 quiz

6 videos

Introduction10m

Overview and Distinctive Features of U.S. Law9m

The Administrative State and Modern Medical Care10m

The Basic Duty to Provide Care12m

EMTALA's Statutory Response12m

Institutional and Individual Obligations in the Emergency Context9m

3 readings

Introduction to American Legal System45m

Hurley vs. Eddingfield20m

Case Examples of EMTALA Violations20m

1 practice exercise

Week 1 Quiz

Week

Week 2

3 hours to complete

Formation and Termination, Privacy and Confidentiality

The second module closely examines the doctor-patient relationship: how it is formed, terminated, and in some cases, abandoned. We then examine the rise of conscientious objection as a right of medical providers.

3 hours to complete

4 videos (Total 46 min), 3 readings, 1 quiz

4 videos

Formation of the Treatment Relationship11m

The Law of Termination and Abandonment7m

The Rise of Conscientious Objection11m

Informed Consent: The Basic Materiality Standard15m

3 readings

Patient Abandonment Cases: What You Need to Know25m

Conscientious Objection30m

Informed Consent30m

1 practice exercise

Week 2 Quiz

Week

Week 3

2 hours to complete

Quality Control

This module explores the various mechanisms in place to ensure quality control in the U.S. healthcare system, including licensure and accreditation as a preventative measure, and tort law and liability as a remedial measure.

2 hours to complete

5 videos (Total 56 min), 2 readings, 1 quiz

5 videos

Quality Control through Gatekeeping: Licensure and Accreditation10m

Health Care Quality and the Basic Medical Malpractice Standard14m

Medical Malpractice Reforms and Variations12m

Hospital Liability10m

Insurance Company Liability for the Provision of Substandard Care7m

2 readings

Evaluating the Medical Malpractice Standard System and Options for Reform10m

Vicarious Liability in the Hospital Setting20m

1 practice exercise

Week 3 Quiz

Week

Week 4

3 hours to complete

Medicare, Medicaid, and The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act

This final module focuses on the role of the federal government in administering Medicare and Medicaid as well as the effects of the recently passed Affordable Care Act.

3 hours to complete

5 videos (Total 53 min), 3 readings, 1 quiz

5 videos

Introduction to Medicare and Medicaid10m

Medicaid8m

Constitutional Structure and the Federal Role in U.S. Health Law12m

Affordable Care Act: Initial Litigation and Ongoing Legal Controversy13m

Conclusion and Review7m

3 readings

Medicare and Medicaid Basics30m

Summary of the Affordable Care Act45m

Supreme Court Upholds ACA25m

1 practice exercise

Final Examination

About the Healthcare Law Specialization

This Specialization is designed to help you navigate the complex legal framework that governs modern health systems. You will learn the fundamentals of American health law, then explore how privacy law shapes the relationship between healthcare providers and their patients. You will also learn how intellectual property law influences everything from the pharmaceutical industry, to medical research, to cutting-edge ethical issues involved in emerging technologies such as DNA-testing. Finally, the specialization will conclude with a study of how other countries vary in their approaches to solving the common problems that face all health systems.

Frequently Asked Questions

When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
Access to lectures and assignments depends on your type of enrollment. If you take a course in audit mode, you will be able to see most course materials for free. To access graded assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience, during or after your audit. If you don't see the audit option:
The course may not offer an audit option. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid.
The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.
What will I get if I subscribe to this Specialization?
When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
Is financial aid available?
Yes, Coursera provides financial aid to learners who cannot afford the fee. Apply for it by clicking on the Financial Aid link beneath the "Enroll" button on the left. You'll be prompted to complete an application and will be notified if you are approved. You'll need to complete this step for each course in the Specialization, including the Capstone Project. Learn more.

More questions? Visit the Learner Help Center.

U.S. Health Law Fundamentals