US Code

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

38 U.S.C. § 8111A

Furnishing of health-care services to members of the Armed Forces during a war or national emergency

(a)
(1)
During and immediately following a period of war, or a period of national emergency declared by the President or the Congress that involves the use of the Armed Forces in armed conflict, the Secretary may furnish hospital care, nursing home care, and medical services to members of the Armed Forces on active duty.
(2)
(A)
During and immediately following a disaster or emergency referred to in subparagraph (B), the Secretary may furnish hospital care and medical services to members of the Armed Forces on active duty responding to or involved in that disaster or emergency.
(B)
A disaster or emergency referred to in this subparagraph is any disaster or emergency as follows:
(i)
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.).
(ii)
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.
(3)
The Secretary may give a higher priority to the furnishing of care and services under this section than to the furnishing of care and services to any other group of persons eligible for care and services in medical facilities of the Department with the exception of veterans with service-connected disabilities.
(4)
For the purposes of this section, the terms “hospital care”, “nursing home care”, and “medical services” have the meanings given such terms by sections 1701(5), 101(28), and 1701(6) of this title, respectively, and the term “medical services” includes services under sections 1782 and 1783 of this title.
(b)
(1)
During a period in which the Secretary is authorized to furnish care and services to members of the Armed Forces under subsection (a) of this section, the Secretary, to the extent authorized by the President and subject to the availability of appropriations or reimbursements under subsection (c) of this section, may enter into contracts with private facilities for the provision during such period by such facilities of hospital care and medical services described in paragraph (2) of this subsection.
(2)
Hospital care and medical services referred to in paragraph (1) of this subsection are—
(A)
section 1710 of this title hospital care and medical services authorized under this title for a veteran and necessary for the care or treatment of a condition for which the veteran is receiving medical services at a Department facility under subsection (a) of , in a case in which the delay involved in furnishing such care or services at such Department facility or at any other Department facility reasonably accessible to the veteran would, in the judgment of the Under Secretary for Health, be likely to result in a deterioration of such condition; and
(B)
hospital care for a veteran who—
(i)
section 1710 of this title is receiving hospital care under ; or
(ii)
is eligible for hospital care under such section and requires such care in a medical emergency that poses a serious threat to the life or health of the veteran;
if Department facilities are not capable of furnishing or continuing to furnish the care required because of the furnishing of care and services to members of the Armed Forces under subsection (a) of this section.
(c)
(1)
The cost of any care or services provided by the Department under subsection (a) of this section shall be reimbursed to the Department by the Department of Defense at such rates as may be agreed upon by the Secretary and the Secretary of Defense based on the cost of the care or services provided.
(2)
Amounts received under this subsection shall be credited to funds allotted to the Department facility that provided the care or services.
(d)
(1)
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Secretary of Defense shall jointly review plans for the implementation of this section not less often than annually.
(2)
Whenever a modification to such plans is agreed to, the Secretaries shall jointly submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a report on such modification. Any such report shall be submitted within 30 days after the modification is agreed to.
(e)
The Secretary shall prescribe regulations to govern any exercise of the authority of the Secretary under subsections (a) and (b) of this section and of the Under Secretary for Health under subsection (b)(2)(A) of this section.

Pub. L. 97–174, § 4(a)96 Stat. 74Pub. L. 102–40, title IV, § 402(b)(1)105 Stat. 238Pub. L. 102–54, § 14(f)(4)105 Stat. 287Pub. L. 102–83105 Stat. 404–406Pub. L. 102–405, title III, § 302(c)(1)106 Stat. 1984Pub. L. 104–262, title I, § 101(e)(5)110 Stat. 3181Pub. L. 106–419, title IV, § 403(b)114 Stat. 1864Pub. L. 107–135, title II, § 208(e)(7)115 Stat. 2464Pub. L. 107–287, § 4(b)116 Stat. 2029Pub. L. 109–444, § 8(a)(8)120 Stat. 3313Pub. L. 109–461, title X120 Stat. 3466Pub. L. 111–275, title X, § 1001(p)(1)124 Stat. 2897(Added , , , § 5011A; renumbered § 8111A, , , ; amended , , ; , §§ 4(a)(3), (4), (b)(1), (2)(E), 5(c)(1), , ; , , ; , , ; , , ; , , ; , , ; , , ; , §§ 1004(a)(8), 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. (a)(2)(B)(i), 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. (a)(2)(B)(ii), is classified to , The Public Health and Welfare.

Amendments

Pub. L. 111–27542 U.S.C. 300hh42 U.S.C. 300hh–11(b)2010—Subsec. (a)(2)(B)(ii). 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. (a)(2)(B)(i). , 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)(8), 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.

Pub. L. 107–2872002—Subsec. (a). redesignated second sentence of par. (1) as par. (3), added par. (2), and redesignated former par. (2) as (4).

Pub. L. 107–135Subsec. (a)(2). inserted “, and the term ‘medical services’ includes services under sections 1782 and 1783 of this title” before period at end.

Pub. L. 106–4192000—Subsec. (f). struck out subsec. (f) which read as follows: “Within thirty days after a declaration of a period of war or national emergency described in subsection (a) of this section (or as soon after the end of such thirty-day period as is reasonably practicable), the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a report on the Secretary’s allocation of facilities and personnel in order to provide priority hospital care, nursing home care, and medical services under this section to members of the Armed Forces. Thereafter, with respect to any fiscal year in which the authority in subsection (b) of this section to enter into contracts with private facilities has been used, the Secretary shall report within ninety days after the end of such fiscal year to those committees regarding the extent of, and the circumstances under which, such authority was used.”

Pub. L. 104–2621996—Subsec. (b)(2)(A). substituted “subsection (a) of section 1710” for “subsection (f) of section 1712”.

Pub. L. 102–4051992—Subsecs. (b)(2)(A), (e). substituted “Under Secretary for Health” for “Chief Medical Director”.

Pub. L. 102–40section 5011A of this title1991— renumbered as this section.

Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(c)(1)Subsec. (a). , substituted “1701(5)” for “601(5)” and “1701(6)” for “601(6)” in par. (2).

Pub. L. 102–83, § 4(b)(1), (2)(E), substituted “Secretary” for “Administrator” in two places in par. (1).

Pub. L. 102–83, § 4(a)(3), (4), substituted “Department” for “Veterans’ Administration” in par. (1).

Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(c)(1)Subsec. (b). , substituted “1712” for “612” in par. (2)(A) and “1710” for “610” in par. (2)(B)(i).

Pub. L. 102–83, § 4(b)(1), (2)(E), substituted “Secretary” for “Administrator” in two places in par. (1).

Pub. L. 102–83, § 4(a)(3), (4), substituted “Department” for “Veterans’ Administration” wherever appearing in par. (2).

Pub. L. 102–54, § 14(f)(4)(A)Pub. L. 102–40, amended subsec. (b)(2)(A) as in effect immediately before the enactment of by striking out “or (g)” after “subsection (f)”.

Pub. L. 102–83, § 4(b)(1)Subsec. (c). , (2)(E), substituted “Secretary” for “Administrator” in par. (1).

Pub. L. 102–83, § 4(a)(3), (4), substituted “Department” for “Veterans’ Administration” wherever appearing.

Pub. L. 102–54, § 14(f)(4)(B)Pub. L. 102–40Subsec. (d). , amended section as in effect immediately before the enactment of by adding subsec. (d) and striking out former subsec. (d) which read as follows:

“(1) Not later than six months after the date of the enactment of this section, the Administrator and the Secretary of Defense shall enter into an agreement to plan and establish procedures and guidelines for the implementation of this section. Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this section, the Administrator and the Secretary shall complete plans for such implementation and shall submit such plans to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs and on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives.

“(2) The Administrator and the Secretary of Defense shall jointly review such plans not less often than annually thereafter and shall report to such committees any modification in such plans within thirty days after the modification is agreed to.”

Pub. L. 102–83, § 4(b)(1)Subsecs. (e), (f). , (2)(E), substituted “Secretary” for “Administrator” and “Secretary’s” for “Administrator’s” wherever appearing.

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 .

Congressional Findings

Pub. L. 97–174, § 2(b)96 Stat. 70

“The Congress makes the following further findings:
“(1)
During and immediately after a period of war or national emergency involving the use of the Armed Forces of the United States in armed conflict, the Department of Defense might not have adequate health-care resources to care for military personnel wounded in combat and other active-duty military personnel.
“(2)
The Veterans’ Administration has an extensive, comprehensive health-care system that could be used to assist the Department of Defense in caring for such personnel in such a situation.”
, , , provided that:

Executive Documents

Executive Order No. 12751

section 1701 of Title 50Ex. Ord. No. 12751, , 56 F.R. 6787, which related to health care services for Operation Desert Storm, was revoked by Ex. Ord. No. 13350, , 69 F.R. 46055, listed in a table under , War and National Defense.