AMERICAN UNIVERSITY | WASHINGTON COLLEGE OF LAW
Health Law & Policy Brief
The Health Law & Policy Brief is an online publication run by law students at American University Washington College of Law. Founded in 2007, the Health Law & Policy Brief publishes articles on a wide array of cutting-edge topics in health law. Such topics include health care compliance, fraud and abuse enforcement, health insurance payment and reimbursement issues, intellectual property issues, international human rights issues, FDA initiatives and policies, and a host of other matters. Beginning with a staff of just five, the Health Law & Policy Brief now boasts over twenty members and nearly 1,500 readers.
Current Issue
Volume 19, Issue 1
Latest from the Blog
Equal Access for All: Tackling Health Disparities Faced by People with Disabilities
Health inequities affecting people with disabilities remain a persistent and often overlooked issue within the U.S. healthcare system. Despite efforts to make healthcare more inclusive, provider biases and financial challenges continue to prevent millions from receiving equitable care. With recent policy pushes for broader health equity, now is the time […]
The Future of Vaccines Under Trump
As Donald Trump prepares to take office in 2025, public health and policies are expected to shift significantly, particularly around vaccine policy. The Trump Administration, coupled with the appointment of prominent vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (RFK) to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, suggests a potential […]
PBMs: “Pharmacy Benefit Managers” or “Profits Beyond Measure”
Pharmacy Benefit Managers (“PBMs”) have come under intense scrutiny recently. A recent report by the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) noted that PBMs are profiting “at the expense of patients.” However, before discussing the recent scrutiny of PBMs, it is important to understand what role PBMs play in the overall United States healthcare […]
Negligent Mismanagement of Detox in Jails & Prisons: A Need for Change
Among the thousands of federal, state, local, and tribal criminal legal systems in the United States, there are over 1.9 million people in prisons, jails, detention centers, etc. Within that population, an estimated 65 percent of individuals meet the criteria for an active substance use disorder (SUD). The Prison Policy Initiative estimates that in jails, less […]
The Future of Contraceptive Coverage Remains Unknown
The Biden-Harris Administration recently proposed a rule expanding contraceptive coverage under the Affordable Care Act. Nearly 50 million Americans utilize the Affordable Care Act’s Marketplace for affordable healthcare insurance. The Affordable Care Act also protects over 100 million Americans with pre-existing conditions. On average, American families who use the Marketplace to acquire healthcare coverage save $800 […]
The Expanding Involvement of Private Equity in Healthcare: A Mounting Concern for Quality, Cost, and Patient Welfare
Over the last decade, private equity (PE) investment in healthcare has surged, impacting everything from small, private physician practices to major hospital systems. In fact, PE buyouts of physician practices increased by six times from 2012 to 2021. PE’s business model is designed for swift financial returns, with major profits only realized upon […]
The Case of the Cavity: Should We Keep Fluoride in Our Water?
On Thursday, November 14th, 2024, President-elect Donald J. Trump announced that he was nominating Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to oversee the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). This nomination came as no surprise since Trump has continuously voiced that Kennedy would play a role in his upcoming administration by helping him […]
Who Has Access to Unpaid Family and Medical Leave?
The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) guarantees eligible employees up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave each year to care for a newborn, newly adopted child, and/or a seriously ill immediate family member, or to recover from their serious health condition. FMLA also provides up to 26 weeks of leave to care for […]
AI In Health Care Not Just for Providers: Using AI to Advocate for Yourself
Health insurance is a legal entitlement to payment or reimbursement for health care costs. At its core, health insurance is supposed to provide important financial protection for health care costs in case of accident or sickness in exchange for a monthly premium. It can also help people when they are not sick […]
Health & Housing: Using Medicaid Funds for Housing Services
Health is the way a person interacts with their environment. A person’s environment includes where they live, the quality of the home, the air, and access to nutritious food. These all influence a person’s opportunities to achieve health and affect the rates of life expectancy, infant mortality, and rates of […]