Which scenario illustrates public law in healthcare?

• A. A contract between an EHR vendor and a hospital system
• B. Federal or state laws that define access, use, and disclosure of patient healthcare information.
• C. A dispute over software license fees.
• D. An internal hospital policy on employee dress code.

Answer: (B)

Public law in healthcare covers government-made rules that regulate how health information is treated and how health care activities are governed. The scenario describing federal or state laws that define who can access patient health information, how it may be used, and when it may be disclosed fits this, because it relies on statutes and regulations created by the government to protect privacy and set nationwide or statewide standards for all providers. These laws establish rights for individuals and duties for health entities, with enforcement by public authorities.

The other scenarios involve private agreements or internal governance. A contract between an EHR vendor and a hospital is private law governing a relationship between non-governmental parties. A dispute over software license fees is a commercial matter, again private. An internal hospital policy on dress code is organizational policy, not a government-imposed rule.