Federal laws provide protections for patients based on particular characteristics such as disability, race, and sex, among others. These laws grew out of evidence of systemic discriminatory practices by healthcare institutions and, while they don't cover everything, they deter or penalize the most egregious of these discriminatory practices. In this course, you will explore specific federal protections and how they have been strengthened by additional legislation.

As you explore discrimination on the basis of disability, you will examine two key federal laws: the Americans with Disabilities Act, which has a wide scope, and the Federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which is narrower. Progressing through the course, you will examine discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin. You will also discover how Title VI of The Civil Rights Act and Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act are the principle statutes designed to protect individuals. You will examine the penalties for healthcare practices that discriminate on the basis of sex, including gender identity, as covered under two principal laws: Title IX of the Education Amendments Act and Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act.