Health Law is a broad field both in terms of the nature of the clients and the nature of the issues. Health care lawyers work in many settings. They work in law firms of all sizes, but are often in larger firms with departments specializing in health care law. They work for nonprofit advocacy groups and also work directly for health care providers, as in-house counsel for hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, insurance companies, and health maintenance organizations. Finally, others work for government agencies or for professional and trade associations, such as state hospital associations, medical associations, and nursing associations.
Health care lawyers in private practice often represent health care providers, such as hospitals, nursing homes, health maintenance organizations, physicians, dentists, clinical laboratories, and health insurance carriers, to name just a few. These providers often seek legal advice on general corporate and employment matters but also need representation on issues unique to the health care industry. They may, for instance, represent clients before state and federal agencies that regulate the industry. Health care lawyers also represent consumers and patients on issues related to their care. Those in government agencies may do regulatory work or represent the state against nursing homes, insurance companies, or medical personnel involved in liscensing issues.
Health Law covers a broad array of matters, including those involving Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement, certificates of need, insurance regulation, medical-staff relationships, bioethics, informed consent, risk management, professional licensure and certification. Health care lawyers may also assist their clients with many types of litigation, from antitrust to health care fraud. Because the health care industry is highly regulated, health care lawyers carefully monitor legislation concerning the industry and may be involved in developing legislative strategies and as lobbyists.
Core/Foundation Courses
These are the entry level courses that -- at a minimum -- employers expect a student interested in this specialty to have .
Recommended Courses
Students interested in this practice area should consider including
one or more of the following courses as electives.
- Insurance Law
- Law and the Elderly
- Law, Science and Biotechnology
- L&CP: Children, Parents & the State
- L&CP: Consumer Issues: Health Systems and Health Care Delivery
- L&CP: Food and Drug Law
- L&CP: Patient Centered Care Providers
- L&CP: Post-Regulatory Law and Lawyering
- Psychiatry and the Law
Enrichment Courses
These courses deepen or broaden the skills and substantive information
that a lawyer in this field needs and also provide advanced courses for
students interested in a specialty within this area of practice.
(Students interested in health law are encouraged to consider some courses
outside of the Law School (limited to 6 credits total) -- see below)
- Business Organizations I
- Business Organizations II
- Constitutional Law I
- Constitutional Law II
- Introduction to Intellectual Property
- Labor Relations Law
- Lawyering Skills Program
- Trial Advocacy
The following enrichment courses are offered by the University
of Wisconsin-Madison Graduate School (limited to 6 credits towards
J.D.)
- Determinants of Population Health
- Economics of Health Care
- Health Economics
- International Health Systems
- Introduction to Finance
- Introduction to Health Services Research
- Monitoring Population Health
- Seminar: Contemporary Issues in Health Care
(Note that whether a particular course is scheduled depends on faculty availability and student demand.)
Clinics, Internships, and Externships
Center for Patient Partnerships
The Center advocates for patient choices and preferences with health care providers, insurers, and other parties. In general, "advocacy" will focus on problem solving and communication to help patients and providers make good decisions together, and for patients to then get access to the desired care or treatment. The Center fosters good health care partnerships between a patient and his/her health care providers and among the multiple parties involved in care and treatment. This may include accompanying and advocating for a patient with providers, insurers, and other parties in informal problem solving and grievance hearings.
Through supervised externships, the Health Law Project exposes students to health issues that are confronting lawyers representing consumers, patients, employees, physicians, and government agencies. The course provides an opportunity for selected students to learn health law in the context of analyzing and proposing advocacy approaches to contemporary social and legal problems.
Student Organizations and Related Activities
Population Health Sciences Student Organization (click on student organizations)
Endeavors to enhance graduate student involvement in departmental academic
and administrative affairs, as well as: policy-making; facilitate networking
among students; and provide leadership opportunities through service on
departmental committees and planning of student-led research activities,
social events, and community service.
Mock Trial gives law students real trial experience at a competitive level. Students participate in nationwide competitions that give them opportunities to give opening and closing statements and direct- and cross-examine witnesses. For the student interested in health law litigation, Mock Trial is an invaluable experience to learn skills you may not get in the classroom.
Faculty
Here are some of the full-time faculty who teach or have an interest
in this subject area:
R. Alta
Charo
Room 5211C
262-5015
racharo@wisc.edu
Martha
E. Gaines
Room 4311A
265-6267
mgaines@wisc.edu
Pilar N.
Ossorio
Room 9103
263-2387
pnossorio@wisc.edu
Louise
Trubek
Room 8111
262-1679
lgtrubek@wisc.edu
Alan J.
Weisbard
Room 6105
263-1799
weisbard@wisc.edu