Health care and hospitalization law are federal and state laws that encompass public health, mental health, private health insurance matters, contracts, administrative law, financing, torts, corporation, antitrust, and ethics. Health care law's wide foundation can be attributed to the wide range of issues it encompasses. From genetic testing and the rising cost of health insurance to bioterrorism and malpractice, health care law covers it all.

Federal health law focuses on the activity of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). It administers a wide variety of agencies and programs, like providing financial assistance to needy individuals; conducting medical and scientific research; providing health care and advocacy services; and enforcing laws and regulations related to human services. An important part of the HHS are the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which oversee the Medicare and Medicaid Programs, State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), and Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA). Their goal is to ensure that elderly and needy individuals receive proper medical care.

Individual states also have laws pertaining to public health. Check with a qualified health law attorney in your area for more information. In addition to public health issues, both the federal government and state governments also regulate private health insurance.