EDAPT HEALTHCARE LEGISLATION
Healthcare policy is a large area that encompasses many different aspects of government and organizational
involvement in healthcare practice. It is important because it creates a framework for acceptable practice and
defines unacceptable variations from local and national standards. When healthcare policy is not followed,
healthcare professionals become accountable for injuries that may result; this is called liability. This risk
encourages safe practice and gives the public resources when injury occurs due to the negligence of a
healthcare professional, organization, or government.
Understanding this liability starts with knowledge of how governments work and how healthcare legislation is
enacted.
Which are the branches of the federal government responsible for creating, interpreting, and guiding? Select
all that apply.
Three branches of government are responsible for guidance, creation, and interpretation of the law. These are
the legislative branch, judicial branch, and executive branch.
The Department of Health Services and the Department of Justice are administrative agencies that follow the
laws at the direction of these three branches.
The Senate and House of Representatives are part of which branch of government?
The Senate and House of Representatives are part of the legislative branch of the government.
The courts are part of the Judicial branch and the President and Cabinet are part of the Executive branch.
Health and justice are not branches, but departments.
In government, which definition best describes precedence?
In government, precedence refers to court actions that are decided based on similar prior decisions. When the
laws, as written, are unclear, the courts turn to precedence for guidance.
Court decisions that are different than previous decisions go against precedence.
An executive order can never replace the law. Instead, an executive order should always follow the law but is
usually used as a supplement where the law may not have been written clearly or at all.