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Health Law

An overview of health law resources available through the UNC Law Library.

Federal Statutes

Federal Statutes:

The majority of federal health care legislation can be found in the following sections of the U.S. Code:

The UNC Law Library carries print versions of the US Code, the USCS and the USCA at KF62. The following electronic databases also provide access to the U.S. Code: 

Free Electronic Access:

  • GovInfo – This resource also provides access to the Congressional Records and Reports. This is a PDF electronic code (certified by Superintendent of Documents) provided by the Office of the Law Revision Counsel of the U.S. House of Representatives; efforts have been made for accuracy, but website cautions that if you are using the code for legal research, you should verify results against the printed version of the code provided by the GPO.
  • Legal Information Institute - LII is operated by an editorial group at Cornell Law School. This resource provides access to primary and secondary law, including the U.S. Code. 

Access via Library Databases:

  • HeinOnline - HeinOnline provides complete coverage of the US Code, dating back to its inception in 1925. Note that HeinOnline access is limited to the UNC Community.
  • Lexis  - Search for health law statutes within the “Healthcare Law” Practice Page. Note that access is restricted to UNC Law Students & Faculty.
  • Westlaw - Provides topical searching capabilities - choose “Health Law.” Note that access is restricted to UNC Law Students & Faculty.
  • Bloomberg Law - The “Health” Practice Center has a section dedicated to “Key Laws and Regulations,” which links to several of the major health-related laws. You can also search generally in the US Code via the “Legislative & Regulatory” tab. Note that access is restricted to UNC Law Students & Faculty.

 

Note: If you are interested in conducting federal legislative history research, the UNC Law Library's Federal Legislative History Research Guide is an excellent resource.

Federal Regulations

Federal Regulations:

The majority of federal health care regulations can be found in the following chapters of the Code of Federal Regulations:

The following resources provide access to federal regulations and administrative decisions:

Free Electronic Access:

  • GovInfo: GovInfo provides access to a PDF version of the Code of Federal Regulations and the Federal Register. The CFR coverage currently runs from 1996-present, and the Federal Register coverage is from 1936-present. 
  • Legal Information Institute - LII is operated by an editorial group at Cornell Law School. This resource provides access to primary and secondary law, including the U.S. Code. 

Access via Library Databases:

  • HeinOnline: HeinOnline provides PDF versions of both the CFR and the Federal Register. The availability of these resources via HeinOnline is more extensive, including coverage from 1936-present. Note that access is limited to the UNC Community.
    • In addition, HeinOnline also provides access to its U.S. Federal Agency Documents, Decisions, and Appeals library. This library is a “complete collection of the official case law” of many U.S. federal agencies, including the Department of Health & Human Services.
  • Lexis: The Healthcare Law Practice Center enables you to search in the following areas. Note that access is restricted to UNC Law Students & Faculty.
  • Westlaw: Westlaw Next’s “Regulations” search function allows you to filter by “Health Law” and provides methods for searching both state and federal regulations. Note that access is restricted to UNC Law Students & Faculty.

Federal Administrative Materials

Federal Administrative Materials:

The following are the key agencies charged with overseeing federal health law legislation:

Free Electronic Access:

  • Agency Websites - Each agency charged with overseeing federal health law maintains a website containing current regulations, proposed regulations, and any interpretation or opinion letters drafted by the agency. Users can find that information here:
    • HHS Laws & Regulations - The Department of Health and Human Services' website allows users to search into materials by individual pieces of federal legislation. For example, users are able to search within the Affordable Care Act and its accompanying regulations, while also reading the agency's explanations of the finer points of the law.
    • FDA Regulatory Information - In addition to allowing users to search for regulations, the FDA's website also allows searching within its administrative proceeding dockets, FDA standards, and guidance documents.
  • UVA Research Portal - Administrative Decisions - This website directly links to administrative decisions and guidance for HHS and the FDA. This is a convenient tool when used in conjunction with the federal agency websites.

Access via Library Databases:

  • HeinOnline - Under the "U.S. Federal Agency Documents, Decisions, and Appeals" collection, users can search for administrative materials by agency. (Access limited to the UNC Community)
  • Westlaw - Users can search "Administrative Decisions and Guidance" under Federal Materials. The Department of Health & Human Services section provides access to administrative materials for the FDA and HHS. (Access restricted to UNC Law Students & Faculty)
  • Lexis - This database allows you to search through "Federal Agency Decisions." On the sidebar, look for the "Sources" filter, which can be used to narrow results to specific agencies. (Access restricted to UNC Law Students & Faculty)  
  • Bloomberg Law - Users can search through Bloomberg Law's "Regulatory Resources" page to find a search function for reviewing agency decisions and reviewing administrative law decisions. (Access restricted to UNC Law Students & Faculty)  

Federal Case Law

Federal Case Law:

The following legal research resources have created specialized health care law databases that can be used to search for federal court opinions addressing health law issues.

  • Lexis: Healthcare Law Database
    • You can reach this database from Lexis+ homepage by selecting the “Browse” option, featured at the top left-hand side of the page. From the drop-down menu, choose “Practice Pages” and choose to sort “By Practice Area.” You will see “Healthcare Law” as an option.
    • Searching within Lexis: You can also browse by subject classification within Lexis. By choosing to “Browse” by “Topic,” you can then narrow your search to a particular area of health law.
    • (Access restricted to UNC Law Students & Faculty)
  •  Westlaw: Health Law Cases
    • You can narrow your search for federal and state case law by applying filters on the Westlaw Next homepage. From the homepage, choose to browse “Cases.” This page provides you with multiple ways of filtering your search – by jurisdiction or topic. If you select “Health Law,” you can then search by jurisdiction in cases dealing with health law issues.
    • West’s Key Number System: You can also search for cases via West’s Key Number System. Under this system, Health Law is broken down into varying subjects, including public health, patient/provider relationships, malpractice, etc. Health is Key Number 198H using the West system. A full listing of health law keys can be found here.  
    • (Access restricted to UNC Law Students & Faculty)
  • Bloomberg Law: Health Opinions & Dockets
    • From Bloomberg Law’s homepage, click on “Practice Centers.” You will see “Health” as an option, and “Opinions & Dockets” listed as a resource within this practice page. Bloomberg further filters your options by providing searches for health law cases by sorting by jurisdiction, both federal and state.
    • (Access restricted to UNC Law Students & Faculty)