DEFINITION

• Health Law has developed through federal and state legislation and case law to provide legal guidelines for the provision of healthcare services and healthcare benefits. It has also developed to address special issues relating to certain patient populations -- including the elderly and the disabled.

• Different types of health benefits offer financial assistance for general living expenses and healthcare benefits for the disabled or financially needy. These benefits -- which include Social Security disability benefits, Medicare and Medicaid -- present a host of complex issues. The laws and regulations relating to benefit entitlement, amount of benefits and types of services covered are complex.

• Healthcare issues also arise in the context of special populations. Elderly people often seek legal guidance to prepare for long-term care, to ensure their final medical wishes are implemented through a living will or to have their rights as patients protected.

• Disabled people or mentally ill people face issues regarding accessibility of healthcare services, their rights as patients and their rights to control or refuse healthcare treatment.

• Health law and healthcare law involves many facets of state and federal law, including torts, contracts, antitrust and insurance.

FIND A HEALTH LAW ATTORNEY IN YOUR AREA.

See also:

• Health & Health Care
• Living Wills
• Medical Malpractice

RELATED PRACTICE AREAS

Insurance Law
Social Security --Disability
Elder Law

BUZZWORDS

Euthanasia - The act or practice of painlessly putting to death -- as an act of mercy -- persons suffering from incurable disease.

Disability - A physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or indefinite duration with an inability to engage in substantial or gainful employment.

Living Will - A document that governs the withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment from an individual in the event of an incurable or irreversible condition.

Medicaid - A form of public assistance, sponsored jointly by the federal and state governments, providing medical aid for people whose income falls below a certain level.

Medicare (Health Insurance for the Aged Act) - A federal act to provide hospital and medical insurance for the aged under the Social Security Act.

Patients' Rights - A general statement adopted by most healthcare providers, covering such matters as access to care, patient dignity, confidentiality and consent to treatment.

Social Security - A national program of contributory insurance whereby employees and employers pay contributions that are pooled in special trust funds. When earnings stop or are reduced because the worker retires, dies or becomes disabled, monthly cash benefits are paid to replace part of the earnings the person or family has lost.