What Is Healthcare Compliance? Degrees & Careers

Healthcare compliance is an important part of the healthcare industry that protects and serves individuals, families, and healthcare organizations. Compliance training is necessary for anyone in the healthcare field. Many online accredited institutions offer bachelor's degree programs that introduce students to compliance laws and the culture of compliance for pursuing an entry-level career.

All careers in healthcare involve healthcare compliance. However, some careers are more related to:

• compliance audits
• identifying non-compliance
• compliance training

What Is Healthcare Compliance?

Healthcare compliance is the act of complying with laws and regulations related to healthcare. The US Department of Health and Human Services and official state websites provide compliance resources and health information.

Healthcare compliance includes laws and rules such as:

• HIPAA
• Anti-Kickback Statute
• False Claims Act
• Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
• Stark Law

Healthcare compliance also relates to Medicare and medical reimbursements. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services provides information on health reimbursement arrangements and Medicare regulations.

Why Is Healthcare Compliance Important?

Healthcare compliance is important and necessary for patient privacy, patient safety, patient care, and more. It is the heart of the healthcare system that provides the guidance and protection of human rights to appropriate healthcare.

Healthcare compliance is also important for protecting health records and the healthcare system. For example, the HITECH Act expands and improves the use of electronic health records.

Healthcare Compliance Jobs

All occupations in the healthcare industry are responsible for healthcare compliance. There are also healthcare compliance jobs that focus on:

• corporate compliance
• compliance issues
• regulatory compliance

Examples of healthcare compliance jobs include:

• healthcare compliance officer
• risk manager
• fraud investigator

Healthcare compliance programs require professionals to audit healthcare compliance in healthcare organizations. Other examples of healthcare compliance jobs include:

• compliance analysts
• medical claims auditor
• occupational health and safety specialists

Healthcare providers are also examples of healthcare compliance jobs. Healthcare compliance jobs are important for developing trust and integrity between healthcare workers, patients, and communities.

How To Begin Your Career in Healthcare Compliance

Earning an undergraduate degree in the healthcare field is the perfect start to beginning a career in healthcare compliance. Most entry-level jobs in healthcare prefer candidates to hold a bachelor's degree.

All careers in the healthcare industry provide some form of healthcare compliance training based on the specific role. Positions specific to deploying, managing, and improving healthcare compliance require at least a bachelor's degree in healthcare administration, compliance, or management.

Best Degree Programs for Healthcare Compliance

The best degree programs for healthcare compliance are available through high-quality accredited institutions. A few healthcare compliance degree programs are below.

1. Arizona State University

Arizona State University offers an online Bachelor of Science (BS) in healthcare compliance and regulations degree program that covers relevant laws and policies. The program prepares students for managing healthcare compliance and making ethical decisions.

The program consists of 120 credit hours of required courses such as occupational safety and ergonomics, business law and ethics for managers, and monitoring and auditing for health care compliance.

2. Bellevue University

The online degree programs at Bellevue University that relate to healthcare compliance include the BS in health science and the BS in healthcare management.

The BS in health science degree program prepares students to analyze health, illness, and more for individuals and communities. Courses include:

• Health Communication
• Understanding Health Research
• Medical Ethics and Leadership

The cost of tuition is $449 per credit hour.

3. Grand Canyon University

The BS in health information management or BS in healthcare administration degree programs at Grand Canyon University are perfect for anyone interested in healthcare compliance.

The online healthcare administration program involves courses that train you on healthcare policy, legal and ethical principles in healthcare, operations and risk management, and more. This program is appropriate for students interested in a management or supervisory role.

The online health information management degree program focuses on following and enhancing compliance laws and standards that correlate with patient medical data and records. The program is ideal for becoming a medical records specialist.

4. Maryville University

Maryville University has an online BS in healthcare management degree program that offers an opportunity to earn a certificate in senior living management. The program requires students to complete 128 credit hours of courses.

The coursework of the healthcare management program covers:

• human resource management
• quality and compliance
• medical law and risk management

Tuition is $540 per credit hour.

5. Purdue Global

Purdue Global offers undergraduate healthcare compliance degrees in health and wellness, healthcare administration, health education and promotion, nutrition, and more.

Undergraduate online degree programs at Purdue Global cost $371 per credit hour for full-time enrollment and take about four years to complete. Purdue Global's bachelor's degree programs in healthcare provide a strong introduction to healthcare policies, standards, and more.

6. Regent University

There is a BS in healthcare management degree program at Regent University that students can complete in an online learning format. The program teaches about healthcare legislation, corporate liability, and more.

Examples of program courses include:

• Healthcare Management Foundations
• Healthcare Informatics
• Contemporary Issues in Healthcare Management

Tuition is $395 per credit hour based on full-time enrollment.

7. Southern New Hampshire University

Southern New Hampshire University provides several online degree programs in healthcare compliance. Healthcare compliance programs at SNHU include:

• BS in community health education
• BS in health information management
• BS in healthcare administration
• BS in public health

The healthcare programs cover new regulations, patient-care technologies, and more. The cost of tuition is $330 per credit hour based on full-time enrollment and the programs consist of 120 or more hours of required coursework.

8. University of Phoenix

The University of Phoenix offers two programs related to healthcare compliance. The BS in health administration degree program prepares students for leadership through courses in:

• compliance
• finance
• communications

The BS in health management degree program also develops a student's understanding of:

• healthcare compliance
• finance
• technology

However, the health management program also explores areas such as data analytics and human resources.