US Code

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

38 U.S.C. § 1785

Care and services during certain disasters and emergencies

(a)

Authority To Provide Hospital Care and Medical Services .—

During and immediately following a disaster or emergency referred to in subsection (b), the Secretary may furnish hospital care and medical services to individuals responding to, involved in, or otherwise affected by that disaster or emergency.
(b)

Covered Disasters and Emergencies .—

A disaster or emergency referred to in this subsection is any disaster or emergency as follows:
(1)
42 U.S.C. 5121 A major disaster or emergency declared by the President under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act ( et seq.).
(2)
42 U.S.C. 300hh1
1 See References in Text note below.
A disaster or emergency in which the National Disaster Medical System established pursuant to section 2812 of the Public Health Service Act ()  is activated by the Secretary of Health and Human Services under that section or as otherwise authorized by law.
(c)

Applicability to Eligible Individuals Who Are Veterans .—

section 1705 of this titleThe Secretary may furnish care and services under this section to an individual described in subsection (a) who is a veteran without regard to whether that individual is enrolled in the system of patient enrollment under .
(d)

Reimbursement From Other Federal Departments and Agencies .—

(1)
The cost of any care or services furnished under this section to an officer or employee of a department or agency of the United States other than the Department or to a member of the Armed Forces shall be reimbursed at such rates as may be agreed upon by the Secretary and the head of such department or agency or the Secretary concerned, in the case of a member of the Armed Forces, based on the cost of the care or service furnished.
(2)
section 1729A of this title Amounts received by the Department under this subsection shall be credited to the Medical Care Collections Fund under .
(e)

Report to Congressional Committees .—

Within 60 days of the commencement of a disaster or emergency referred to in subsection (b) in which the Secretary furnishes care and services under this section (or as soon thereafter as is practicable), the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report on the Secretary’s allocation of facilities and personnel in order to furnish such care and services.
(f)

Regulations .—

The Secretary shall prescribe regulations governing the exercise of the authority of the Secretary under this section.

Pub. L. 107–287, § 4(a)(1)116 Stat. 2028Pub. L. 109–444, § 8(a)(2)120 Stat. 3313Pub. L. 109–461, title X120 Stat. 3465Pub. L. 111–275, title X, § 1001(c)(2)124 Stat. 2896(Added , , ; amended , , ; , §§ 1004(a)(2), 1006(b), , , 3468; , , .)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Pub. L. 93–28888 Stat. 143section 5121 of Title 42The Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, referred to in subsec. (b)(1), is , , , which is classified principally to chapter 68 (§ 5121 et seq.) of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under and Tables.

section 300hh–11 of Title 42Section 2812 of the Public Health Service Act, referred to in subsec. (b)(2), is classified to , The Public Health and Welfare.

Prior Provisions

section 3685 of this titleA prior section 1785 was renumbered .

Amendments

Pub. L. 111–27542 U.S.C. 300hh42 U.S.C. 300hh–11(b)2010—Subsec. (b)(2). substituted “section 2812 of the Public Health Service Act ()” for “section 2811(b) of the Public Health Service Act ()” and struck out “paragraph (3)(A) of” before “that section”.

Pub. L. 109–461, § 1006(b)Pub. L. 109–461Pub. L. 109–444Pub. L. 109–444section 1006(b) of Pub. L. 109–461Pub. L. 109–444section 101 of this title2006—Subsec. (b)(1). , provided that as of the enactment of , the amendments made by were deemed for all purposes not to have taken effect and that ceased to be in effect. See Amendment notes below and , set out as a Coordination of Provisions With note under .

Pub. L. 109–461, § 1004(a)(2), substituted “Robert T.” for “Robert B.”.

Pub. L. 109–444Pub. L. 109–461, § 1006(b), which substituted “Robert T.” for “Robert B.”, was terminated by . See Amendment notes above.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Transfer of Functions

Pub. L. 109–295section 300hh–11 of Title 42section 301(b) of Pub. L. 109–417section 300hh–11 of Title 42For transfer of functions, personnel, assets, and liabilities of the National Disaster Medical System, including the functions of the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Under Secretary for Emergency Preparedness and Response relating thereto, to the Secretary of Health and Human Services, see title III of , set out in part as a note under , The Public Health and Welfare, and , set out as a note under .

section 542 of Title 6For transfer of functions, personnel, assets, and liabilities of the National Disaster Medical System of the Department of Health and Human Services, including the functions of the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Assistant Secretary for Public Health Emergency Preparedness [now Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response] relating thereto, to the Secretary of Homeland Security, and for treatment of related references, see former section 313(5) and sections 551(d), 552(d), and 557 of Title 6, Domestic Security, and the Department of Homeland Security Reorganization Plan of , as modified, set out as a note under .