Title 42The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-73

§1397d Limitation on use of grants; waiver

Title 42 › Chapter CHAPTER 7— - SOCIAL SECURITY › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER XX— - BLOCK GRANTS AND PROGRAMS FOR SOCIAL SERVICES AND ELDER JUSTICE › § 1397d

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Grants for this program cannot be used for many things. They cannot pay to buy or improve land or to build or permanently change buildings (only small remodeling is OK). They cannot be used for cash payments for living costs or regular room and board (with limited exceptions for rehab, short-term social-service lodging, or emergency shelter). They cannot pay wages as a social service (except for welfare recipients working in child day care). They cannot pay for most medical care, except for family planning, rehabilitation, or initial detox, or when medical care is a small part of an allowed social service. They also cannot fund social services for people living inside hospitals, nursing homes, or prisons; public education given free to all residents; child care that fails to meet state or local standards; cash payments as a service; items or services provided by people who are barred from federal programs or when a doctor who is barred directed them and the provider knew; or be used in ways that conflict with the Assisted Suicide Funding Restriction Act of 1997. The federal Secretary can waive the bans on buying land/buildings (item 1) and on some medical care (item 4) if a State asks, shows extraordinary circumstances, and the waiver would help the State carry out the program.

Full Legal Text

Title 42, §1397d

The Public Health and Welfare — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Except as provided in subsection (b), grants made under this division may not be used by the State, or by any other person with which the State makes arrangements to carry out the purposes of this division—
(1)for the purchase or improvement of land, or the purchase, construction, or permanent improvement (other than minor remodeling) of any building or other facility;
(2)for the provision of cash payments for costs of subsistence or for the provision of room and board (other than costs of subsistence during rehabilitation, room and board provided for a short term as an integral but subordinate part of a social service, or temporary emergency shelter provided as a protective service);
(3)for payment of the wages of any individual as a social service (other than payment of the wages of welfare recipients employed in the provision of child day care services);
(4)for the provision of medical care (other than family planning services, rehabilitation services, or initial detoxification of an alcoholic or drug dependent individual) unless it is an integral but subordinate part of a social service for which grants may be used under this division;
(5)for social services (except services to an alcoholic or drug dependent individual or rehabilitation services) provided in and by employees of any hospital, skilled nursing facility, intermediate care facility, or prison, to any individual living in such institution;
(6)for the provision of any educational service which the State makes generally available to its residents without cost and without regard to their income;
(7)for any child day care services unless such services meet applicable standards of State and local law;
(8)for the provision of cash payments as a service (except as otherwise provided in this section);
(9)for payment for any item or service (other than an emergency item or service) furnished—
(A)by an individual or entity during the period when such individual or entity is excluded under this division or subchapter V, XVIII, or XIX pursuant to section 1320a–7, 1320a–7a, 1320c–5, or 1395u(j)(2) of this title, or
(B)at the medical direction or on the prescription of a physician during the period when the physician is excluded under this division or subchapter V, XVIII, or XIX pursuant to section 1320a–7, 1320a–7a, 1320c–5, or 1395u(j)(2) of this title and when the person furnishing such item or service knew or had reason to know of the exclusion (after a reasonable time period after reasonable notice has been furnished to the person); or
(10)in a manner inconsistent with the Assisted Suicide Funding Restriction Act of 1997 [42 U.S.C. 14401 et seq.].
(b)The Secretary may waive the limitation contained in subsection (a)(1) and (4) upon the State’s request for such a waiver if he finds that the request describes extraordinary circumstances to justify the waiver and that permitting the waiver will contribute to the State’s ability to carry out the purposes of this division.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The Assisted Suicide Funding Restriction Act of 1997, referred to in subsec. (a)(10), is Pub. L. 105–12, Apr. 30, 1997, 111 Stat. 23, which is classified principally to chapter 138 (§ 14401 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 14401 of this title and Tables.

Prior Provisions

A prior section 1397d, act Aug. 14, 1935, ch. 531, title XX, § 2005, as added Jan. 4, 1975, Pub. L. 93–647, § 2, 88 Stat. 2347; amended June 17, 1980, Pub. L. 96–272, title II, § 206(d), 94 Stat. 525, related to

Effective Date

of implementing

Regulations

, prior to the general revision of this subchapter by section 2352(a) of Pub. L. 97–35.

Amendments

2010—Pub. L. 111–148, which directed substitution of “this division” for “this subchapter” wherever appearing in subtitle 1 of title XX of act Aug. 14, 1935, was executed by making the substitution wherever appearing in this section, which is in subtitle A of title XX act Aug. 14, 1935, to reflect the probable intent of Congress. 1997—Subsec. (a)(10). Pub. L. 105–12 added par. (10). 1988—Subsec. (a)(9)(A), (B). Pub. L. 100–360, § 411(k)(10)(D), as amended by Pub. L. 100–485, § 608(d)(26)(K)(ii), added Pub. L. 100–203, § 4118(e)(13), see 1987 Amendment note below. 1987—Subsec. (a)(9). Pub. L. 100–93 added par. (9). Subsec. (a)(9)(A), (B). Pub. L. 100–203, § 4118(e)(13), as added by Pub. L. 100–360, § 411(k)(10)(D), as amended by Pub. L. 100–485, § 608(d)(26)(K)(ii), substituted “under this subchapter or subchapter V, XVIII, or XIX pursuant to section 1320a–7, 1320a–7a, 1320c–5, or 1395u(j)(2) of this title” for “pursuant to section 1320a–7 of this title or section 1320a–7a of this title from participation in the program under this subchapter”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 1997 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 105–12 effective Apr. 30, 1997, and applicable to Federal payments made pursuant to obligations incurred after Apr. 30, 1997, for items and services provided on or after such date, subject to also being applicable with respect to contracts entered into, renewed, or extended after Apr. 30, 1997, as well as contracts entered into before Apr. 30, 1997, to the extent permitted under such contracts, see section 11 of Pub. L. 105–12, set out as an

Effective Date

note under section 14401 of this title.

Effective Date

of 1988

Amendments

Amendment by Pub. L. 100–485 effective as if included in the enactment of the Medicare Catastrophic Coverage Act of 1988, Pub. L. 100–360, see section 608(g)(1) of Pub. L. 100–485, set out as a note under section 704 of this title. Except as specifically provided in section 411 of Pub. L. 100–360, amendment by Pub. L. 100–360, as it relates to a provision in the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987, Pub. L. 100–203, effective as if included in the enactment of that provision in Pub. L. 100–203, see section 411(a) of Pub. L. 100–360, set out as a Reference to OBRA;

Effective Date

note under section 106 of Title 1, General Provisions.

Effective Date

of 1987 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 100–93 effective at end of fourteen-day period beginning Aug. 18, 1987, and inapplicable to administrative proceedings commenced before end of such period, see section 15(a) of Pub. L. 100–93, set out as a note under section 1320a–7 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

42 U.S.C. § 1397d

Title 42The Public Health and Welfare

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73