§290dd–1 — Title 42 The Public Health and Welfare | U.S. Code

§290dd–1 Admission of substance abusers to private and public hospitals and outpatient facilities

Title 42 › Chapter CHAPTER 6A— - PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER III–A— - SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ADMINISTRATION › Part Part D— - Miscellaneous Provisions Relating to Substance Abuse and Mental Health › § 290dd–1

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Hospitals and outpatient centers that get any federal help must not refuse to admit or treat people just because they abuse drugs or alcohol. An outpatient facility is a place that treats patients without an overnight stay (defined elsewhere). The Secretary must write rules to enforce this. The rules must explain how to investigate complaints, offer a hearing if asked, notify a facility that it broke the rule, and give the facility a chance to fix the problem. If a facility keeps breaking the rule after being given a chance and a hearing, the Secretary can stop or take away some or all federal support. The Secretary can work with other federal program officials about stopping other federal funds. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, through the Under Secretary for Health, must apply these rules to VA hospital, nursing home, domiciliary, and medical care for veterans with substance abuse as much as allowed under title 38, and should consult the Secretary of Health and Human Services to coordinate the rules.

Title 42, §290dd–1

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

(a)Substance abusers who are suffering from medical conditions shall not be discriminated against in admission or treatment, solely because of their substance abuse, by any private or public general hospital, or outpatient facility (as defined in section 300s–3(4) of this title) which receives support in any form from any program supported in whole or in part by funds appropriated to any Federal department or agency.

(b)(1)The Secretary shall issue regulations for the enforcement of the policy of subsection (a) with respect to the admission and treatment of substance abusers in hospitals and outpatient facilities which receive support of any kind from any program administered by the Secretary. Such regulations shall include procedures for determining (after opportunity for a hearing if requested) if a violation of subsection (a) has occurred, notification of failure to comply with such subsection, and opportunity for a violator to comply with such subsection. If the Secretary determines that a hospital or outpatient facility subject to such regulations has violated subsection (a) and such violation continues after an opportunity has been afforded for compliance, the Secretary may suspend or revoke, after opportunity for a hearing, all or part of any support of any kind received by such hospital from any program administered by the Secretary. The Secretary may consult with the officials responsible for the administration of any other Federal program from which such hospital or outpatient facility receives support of any kind, with respect to the suspension or revocation of such other Federal support for such hospital or outpatient facility.

(2)The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, acting through the Under Secretary for Health, shall, to the maximum feasible extent consistent with their responsibilities under title 38, prescribe regulations making applicable the regulations prescribed by the Secretary under paragraph (1) to the provision of hospital care, nursing home care, domiciliary care, and medical services under such title 38 to veterans suffering from substance abuse. In prescribing and implementing regulations pursuant to this paragraph, the Secretary shall, from time to time, consult with the Secretary of Health and Human Services in order to achieve the maximum possible coordination of the regulations, and the implementation thereof, which they each prescribe.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Codification Section was formerly classified to section 4561 of this title prior to renumbering by Pub. L. 98–24.

Amendments

1994—Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 103–446 substituted “Under Secretary for Health” for “Chief Medical Director”. 1992—Pub. L. 102–321 amended section generally, substituting provisions relating to admission of substance abusers to private and public hospitals and outpatient facilities for provisions relating to programs for government and other employees. 1986—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 99–570, § 6002(b)(1), redesignated subsec. (b) as (a), struck out “similar” after “fostering and encouraging” in par. (1), and struck out former subsec. (a) which read as follows: “The Office of Personnel Management shall be responsible for developing and maintaining, in cooperation with the Secretary and with other Federal agencies and departments, and in accordance with the provisions of subpart F of part III of title 5, appropriate prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation programs and services for alcohol abuse and alcoholism among Federal civilian employees, consistent with the purposes of this chapter. Such agencies and departments are encouraged to extend, to the extent feasible, these programs and services to the families of alcoholic employees and to employees who have family members who are alcoholics. Such policies and services shall make optimal use of existing governmental facilities, services, and skills.” Subsecs. (b) to (d). Pub. L. 99–570, § 6002(b)(1)(C), redesignated subsecs. (c) and (d) as (b) and (c), respectively. Former subsec. (b) redesignated (a). 1984—Pub. L. 98–509 amended directory language of Pub. L. 98–24, § 2(b)(13). See 1983 Amendment note below. 1983—Pub. L. 98–24, § 2(b)(13), as amended by Pub. L. 98–509, renumbered section 4561 of this title as this section. Subsec. (b)(4). Pub. L. 98–24, § 2(b)(13)(B)(i), substituted “section 290ee–1 of this title” for “section 1180(b) of title 21”. Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 98–24, § 2(b)(13)(B)(ii), substituted “this section” for “this subchapter”, meaning subchapter II (§ 4561 et seq.) of chapter 60 of this title. 1981—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 97–35, §§ 961, 966(d), made changes in nomenclature, and substituted provisions relating to responsible State administrative agencies, for provisions relating to single State agencies designated pursuant to section 4573 of this title. 1980—Pub. L. 96–180, § 6(b)(2)(A), amended section catchline. Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 96–180, § 6(a), substituted “Office of Personnel Management” for “Civil Service Commission” and inserted provisions that require compliance with provisions of subpart F of part III of title 5 and encourage agencies and departments to extend the programs and services to the families of alcoholic employees and to employees who have family members who are alcoholics. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 96–180, § 6(b)(1), designated existing provisions as par. (1), made the Secretary responsible for encouragement of programs and services, required the programs and services to be designed for application to families of employees and to employees who have family members who are alcoholics, and added pars. (2) to (4).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 1992 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 102–321 effective Oct. 1, 1992, with provision for programs providing financial assistance, see section 801(c), (d) of Pub. L. 102–321, set out as a note under section 236 of this title.