ABA Family Legal Guide

Health-Care Law

Regulating Health-Care Professionals

Licensing of Doctors, Nurses, and Hospitals

Do medical institutions need to be licensed?

Just as doctors must be licensed and meet certain standards, so must hospitals, nursing homes, and most other types of health-care facilities. Unlike doctors though, health-care facilities (including hospitals and nursing homes) are regulated by a combination of state and federal laws, including Medicaid and Medicare. These regulations dictate the type of care that may be provided and how the professional staff may be selected and trained, and provide standards for the maintenance and sanitation of the buildings and equipment. In addition, health-care facilities may choose to meet the standards of private accreditation organizations to boost their public image or increase their competitive edge.