
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: 38USC8154]

 
                      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. 8154. Exchange of medical information

    (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, Sec. 203, Nov. 7, 1966, 80 Stat. 1374, 
Sec. 5054; amended Pub. L. 94-424, Sec. 1(1), Sept. 28, 1976, 90 Stat. 
1332; Pub. L. 94-581, title II, Secs. 206(d), 210(e)(12), Oct. 21, 1976, 
90 Stat. 2859, 2865; Pub. L. 96-151, title I, Sec. 102(a), Dec. 20, 
1979, 93 Stat. 1092; Pub. L. 97-251, Sec. 9, Sept. 8, 1982, 96 Stat. 
716; renumbered Sec. 8154, 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.)


                               Amendments

    1991--Pub. L. 102-40 renumbered section 5054 of this title as this 
section.
    Pub. L. 102-83, Sec. 4(b)(1), (2)(E), substituted ``Secretary'' for 
``Administrator'' wherever appearing.
    Pub. L. 102-83, Sec. 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.


                    Effective Date of 1976 Amendment

    Amendment 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.

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

    This section is referred to in sections 7302, 8155 of this title.
