Students interested in pursuing a profession
in medical law can complete a master's degree program in health law.
Health care professionals can complete an online Master of Science
(M.S.) or Master of Jurisprudence (M.J.) in Health Law, while an online
Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Health Law program is offered for practicing
attorneys; however, online LL.M. programs are rare.
Overview of an Online Master's Degree in Health Law
Master's degree programs train students to understand and interpret laws affecting
health care.
Online learners also examine the legal and ethical issues that confront
working healthcare professionals, as well as learn to communicate with
legal counsel. Entrance into a master's degree program requires a
bachelor's degree for health care professionals, while practicing
attorneys must hold a Juris Doctor.
Online M.J. and LL.M. programs are 24-credit hours long and can be
completed in two years, while online M.S. in Health Law degree programs
can range from 30-42 credit hours, and can be completed in about two
and-a-half years. Programs can generally be completed entirely online;
however, some M.S. programs require students to complete a 3-day
residency. Students can access course material at any time, as well as
attend live lectures and communicate with instructors and peers in
real-time discussions.
Students must have access to a computer with a high-speed Internet
connection. Due to the nature of course delivery, the computer must have
audio and video capabilities to stream live and recorded lectures.
Students should also have a printer to create hard copies of course
material.
List of Common Master's Degree Courses in Health Law
Program curricula are generally divided into modules. Foundational
courses cover topics such as administrative law, legal negotiation,
contract law and health policy.
Legal Issues in Public Health Course
This course introduces students to the influence that government
regulations and laws have on the public health sector at both the state
and national levels. Students examine the public health process, which
includes measurement, analysis, planning, design and evaluation. While
often working in groups, students analyze and discuss the environmental,
biological, physical, social and global parameters that shape the
current public health landscape.
Health Law and Policy Course
Students investigate the legal issues that occur between patients and
health care institutions. Topics include health care access, liability,
public and private regulations, accreditation, licensure and patient
rights.
Course in Medicare and Medicaid
Students in this course investigate the legal structure and
fundamentals of Medicare and Medicaid. The curriculum discusses program
goals, communities served, eligibility, program restrictions, benefits
and compensated services. Students examine case studies to understand
federal regulations and law interpretations.
Master's graduates are qualified for employment as a medical and
health services manager position within the health care industry. The
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the employment rate for
this occupation is expected to rise by 16% from 2008-2018 (
www.bls.gov).
In May 2009, this same source cited the annual mean wage for this
position, in the general medical and surgical hospital sector, was
$96,660.
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