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Healthcare Administration Laws

One aspect of being a health care administrator is the need to be aware of the existing laws that regulate the industry. Health care administrators must not only be aware of such laws, but also know how to effectively communicate the content of those laws to their subordinates and peers so that violations do not occur. Laws in health care administration range from patient records to controversial practices like abortion.

  1. Information Privacy Laws

    • The government put strict laws into place that require health care providers and administrators to safeguard the privacy of patient medical records. The most famous of these laws is the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996. This law determines the limits on who can view a patient's medical records to prevent individuals from using that information in an unethical manner. Whether these records are electronic or written, health care administrators in charge of patient records must protect that information under all circumstances, according to federal legal standards. This is true of individuals working in health care settings, health care clearinghouses and health insurance companies. Any information regarding medical records, conversations with health care providers and even billing information is subject to HIPAA regulations.

    Human Research Subjects

    • Title 45 of the Federal Code of Regulations lays out the federal laws regarding the use of human subjects in medical research. The Department of Health and Human Services website provides a detailed account of this statute, section by section. Health care administrators must be aware of this law because it indicates whether certain research activities on human research subjects are admissible under federal law or not. In particular, health care administrators who rely upon government funding must be keenly aware of whether or not their facility's research operations comply with this law. Research using educational tests or in educational settings concerning educational strategies and techniques is usually exempt from this law. All other research must receive approval from an institutional review board to ensure legal compliance; this research must present minimal risk to the subject.

    Laws Regarding Abortion

    • According to the Center for Reproductive Rights, a myriad of laws restrict the use of abortion in medical practice. State mandates often regulate abortion laws, and each state takes its own approach to the issue. In particular, the Center for Reproductive Rights seeks to overthrow the ban on medical abortion or the use of the FDA-approved drug Mifepristone. In some states where the drug is approved for use (some state laws have used the restrictions on medical abortion to prevent its use), the FDA mandates that it must only be administered under a physician's supervision, and that the physician must be able to administer surgical abortion in the event of complications. All patients must also receive full explanations regarding the use of the drug and its potential complications. Health care administrators must be aware of all laws regarding the use of such methods of abortion in their facilities to ensure legal compliance.

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