CHE Healthcare Law and Ethics 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which federal law prohibits healthcare providers from referring patients to facilities in which the provider has a financial interest?
- Stark Law (Correct answer)
- HIPAA
- EMTALA
- Anti-Kickback Statute
Correct answer: Stark Law
The Stark Law (Physician Self-Referral Law) prohibits physicians from referring Medicare/Medicaid patients to entities with which they have a financial relationship.
Question 2: The principle of 'beneficence' in healthcare ethics requires that providers:
- Avoid causing harm to patients
- Act in the best interest of the patient (Correct answer)
- Respect patient autonomy
- Distribute resources fairly
Correct answer: Act in the best interest of the patient
Beneficence requires healthcare providers to act in ways that benefit and promote the well-being of patients.
Question 3: Under EMTALA, hospital emergency departments must:
- Treat only insured patients
- Provide a medical screening exam to all patients regardless of ability to pay (Correct answer)
- Transfer unstable patients immediately
- Require payment before treatment
Correct answer: Provide a medical screening exam to all patients regardless of ability to pay
EMTALA requires hospitals with emergency departments to provide a medical screening exam and stabilize any emergency medical condition regardless of a patient's ability to pay.
Question 4: Which ethical principle supports a patient's right to make informed decisions about their own care?
- Justice
- Non-maleficence
- Autonomy (Correct answer)
- Beneficence
Correct answer: Autonomy
Autonomy is the ethical principle that recognizes a patient's right to make informed, voluntary decisions about their own healthcare.
Question 5: The False Claims Act imposes liability on individuals and companies that:
- Fail to report patient safety incidents
- Submit fraudulent claims for payment to the federal government (Correct answer)
- Violate HIPAA privacy rules
- Discriminate against employees
Correct answer: Submit fraudulent claims for payment to the federal government
The False Claims Act holds liable any person or entity that knowingly submits false or fraudulent claims for payment to the U.S. government.
Question 6: An advance directive that appoints someone to make healthcare decisions on behalf of an incapacitated patient is called a:
- Living will
- Do-not-resuscitate order
- Durable power of attorney for healthcare (Correct answer)
- POLST form
Correct answer: Durable power of attorney for healthcare
A durable power of attorney for healthcare designates a healthcare proxy to make medical decisions when the patient cannot do so themselves.
CHE Healthcare Law and Ethics 1
Which federal law prohibits healthcare providers from referring patients to facilities in which the provider has a financial interest?