Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

38 U.S.C. § 1753

Voluntary participation; confidentiality

(a)
The participation by any person in any program or portion thereof under this subchapter shall be wholly voluntary and shall not be a prerequisite to eligibility for or receipt of any other service or assistance from, or to participation in, any other program under this title.
(b)
section 7332 of this title Patient records prepared or obtained under this subchapter shall be held confidential in the same manner and under the same conditions prescribed in .

Pub. L. 93–82, title I, § 109(a)87 Stat. 187Pub. L. 94–581, title I, § 111(b)90 Stat. 2852Pub. L. 102–40, title IV, § 402(d)(1)105 Stat. 239Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(a)105 Stat. 406(Added , , , § 653; amended , , ; , , ; renumbered § 1753, , , .)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

Pub. L. 102–83section 653 of this title1991— renumbered as this section.

Pub. L. 102–40Subsec. (b). substituted “7332” for “4132”.

Pub. L. 94–581section 4132 of this title1976—Subsec. (b). substituted “Patient records prepared or obtained under this subchapter shall be held confidential in the same manner and under the same conditions prescribed in ” for “The Administrator shall promulgate rules and regulations to insure that all information and patient records prepared or obtained under this subchapter shall be held confidential except for (1) such information as the patient (or his guardian) requests in writing to be released or (2) statistical data compiled without reference to patient names or other identifying characteristics”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1976 Amendment

Pub. L. 94–581section 211 of Pub. L. 94–581section 111 of this titleAmendment by effective , see , set out as a note under .

Effective Date

section 501 of Pub. L. 93–82section 1701 of this titleSection effective , see , set out as an Effective Date of 1973 Amendment note under .