
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
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[Laws in effect as of January 23, 2000]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 23, 2000 and December 4, 2001]
[CITE: 38USC8151]

 
                      TITLE 38--VETERANS' BENEFITS
 
            PART VI--ACQUISITION AND DISPOSITION OF PROPERTY
 
   CHAPTER 81--ACQUISITION AND OPERATION OF HOSPITAL AND DOMICILIARY 
FACILITIES; PROCUREMENT AND SUPPLY; ENHANCED-USE LEASES OF REAL PROPERTY
 
SUBCHAPTER IV--SHARING OF MEDICAL FACILITIES, EQUIPMENT, AND INFORMATION
 
Sec. 8151. Statement of congressional purpose

    It is the purpose of this subchapter to strengthen the medical 
programs at Department facilities and improve the quality of health care 
provided veterans under this title by authorizing the Secretary to enter 
into agreements with health-care providers in order to share health-care 
resources with, and receive health-care resources from, such providers 
while ensuring no diminution of services to veterans.

(Added Pub. L. 89-785, title II, Sec. 203, Nov. 7, 1966, 80 Stat. 1373, 
Sec. 5051; amended Pub. L. 101-366, title II, Sec. 202(a), Aug. 15, 
1990, 104 Stat. 438; renumbered Sec. 8151, Pub. L. 102-40, title IV, 
Sec. 402(b)(1), May 7, 1991, 105 Stat. 238; Pub. L. 102-83, 
Sec. 4(a)(3), (4), (b)(1), (2)(E), Aug. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 404, 405; 
Pub. L. 103-210, Sec. 3(a), Dec. 20, 1993, 107 Stat. 2497; Pub. L. 104-
262, title III, Sec. 301(a), Oct. 9, 1996, 110 Stat. 3191.)


                               Amendments

    1996--Pub. L. 104-262 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, 
section read as follows: ``It is the purpose of this subchapter to 
improve the quality of hospital care and other medical service provided 
veterans under this title, by authorizing the Secretary to enter into 
agreements with medical schools, health-care facilities, and research 
centers throughout the country in order to receive from and share with 
such medical schools, health-care facilities, and research centers the 
most advanced medical techniques and information, as well as certain 
specialized medical resources which otherwise might not be feasibly 
available or to effectively utilize other medical resources with the 
surrounding medical community, without diminution of services to 
veterans. Among other things, it is intended, by these means, to 
strengthen the medical programs at those Department hospitals which are 
located in small cities or rural areas and thus are remote from major 
medical centers. It is further the purpose of this subchapter to improve 
the provision of care to veterans under this title by authorizing the 
Secretary to enter into agreements with State veterans facilities for 
the sharing of health-care resources.''
    1993--Pub. L. 103-210 inserted at end ``It is further the purpose of 
this subchapter to improve the provision of care to veterans under this 
title by authorizing the Secretary to enter into agreements with State 
veterans facilities for the sharing of health-care resources.''
    1991--Pub. L. 102-40 renumbered section 5051 of this title as this 
section.
    Pub. L. 102-83 substituted ``Secretary'' for ``Administrator'' and 
``Department'' for ``Veterans' Administration''.
    1990--Pub. L. 101-366 substituted ``health-care facilities,'' for 
``hospitals,'' in two places.
