republic-os/legal/us/code/title-38/chapter-81/section-8154.md

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LegalText	38 U.S.C. § 8154	Exchange of medical information	us	united_states_code	code_section	38	VETERANS’ BENEFITS	81	ACQUISITION AND OPERATION OF HOSPITAL AND DOMICILIARY FACILITIES; PROCUREMENT AND SUPPLY; ENHANCED-USE LEASES OF REAL PROPERTY	8154	38 U.S.C. § 8154	current	119-100	2026-06-26	official	https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc38@119-100.zip	/us/usc/t38/s8154	data/legal/raw/us/code/title-38/usc38.xml	8dcea3bc6a1b95bf860d5e7672b4bcac1da73ce3daee90f5fc4d655acda9237f	372998691b72ade88787dfa7633dbda4954bd1b037ec7926c5e06e9b1d17fc66	5ebb5d7f247b8c473c1e377f86cd3abc734a51acf58026bcdf47f92a423d2b2d	2026-07-04	official	legal us-code

38 U.S.C. § 8154 - Exchange of medical information

Text

(a) The Secretary is authorized to enter into agreements with medical schools, hospitals, research centers, and individual members of the medical profession under which medical information and techniques will be freely exchanged and the medical information services of all parties to the agreement will be available for use by any party to the agreement under conditions specified in the agreement. In carrying out the purposes of this section, the Secretary shall utilize recent developments in electronic equipment to provide a close educational, scientific, and professional link between Department hospitals and major medical centers. Such agreements shall be utilized by the Secretary to the maximum extent practicable to create, at each Department hospital which is a part of any such agreement, an environment of academic medicine which will help such hospital attract and retain highly trained and qualified members of the medical profession.

(b) In order to bring about utilization of all medical information in the surrounding medical community, particularly in remote areas, and to foster and encourage the widest possible cooperation and consultation among all members of the medical profession in such community, the educational facilities and programs established at Department hospitals and the electronic link to medical centers shall be made available for use by the surrounding medical community (including State home facilities furnishing domiciliary, nursing home, or hospital care to veterans). The Secretary may charge a fee for such services (on annual or like basis) at rates which the Secretary determines, after appropriate study, to be fair and equitable. The financial status of any user of such services shall be taken into consideration by the Secretary in establishing the amount of the fee to be paid. Any proceeds to the Government received therefrom shall be credited to the applicable Department medical appropriation.

(c) The Secretary is authorized to enter into agreements with public and nonprofit private institutions, organizations, corporations, and other entities in order to participate in cooperative health-care personnel education programs within the geographical area of any Department health-care facility located in an area remote from major academic health centers.

(Added Pub. L. 89–785, title II, § 203, Nov. 7, 1966, 80 Stat. 1374, § 5054; amended Pub. L. 94–424, § 1(1), Sept. 28, 1976, 90 Stat. 1332; Pub. L. 94–581, title II, §§ 206(d), 210(e)(12), Oct. 21, 1976, 90 Stat. 2859, 2865; Pub. L. 96–151, title I, § 102(a), Dec. 20, 1979, 93 Stat. 1092; Pub. L. 97–251, § 9, Sept. 8, 1982, 96 Stat. 716; renumbered § 8154, Pub. L. 102–40, title IV, § 402(b)(1), May 7, 1991, 105 Stat. 238; Pub. L. 102–83, § 4(a)(3), (4), (b)(1), (2)(E), Aug. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 404, 405.)

Notes

Editorial Notes

Amendments1991—Pub. L. 102–40 renumbered section 5054 of this title as this section. Pub. L. 102–83, § 4(b)(1), (2)(E), substituted “Secretary” for “Administrator” wherever appearing. Pub. L. 102–83, § 4(a)(3), (4), substituted “Department” for “Veterans’ Administration” wherever appearing. 1982—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 97–251 inserted “(including State home facilities furnishing domiciliary, nursing home, or hospital care to veterans)” after “by the surrounding medical community”. 1979—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 96–151 added subsec. (c). 1976—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 94–581 substituted “by the surrounding” for “by surrounding” and “which the Administrator determines” for “which he determines”. Pub. L. 94–424 inserted provision that any proceeds to the Government received therefrom shall be credited to the applicable Veterans’ Administration medical appropriation.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1976 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 94–581 effective Oct. 21, 1976, see section 211 of Pub. L. 94–581, set out as a note under section 111 of this title.