
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 23, 2000]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 23, 2000 and December 4, 2001]
[CITE: 42USC256c]

 
                 TITLE 42--THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE
 
                    CHAPTER 6A--PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE
 
                SUBCHAPTER II--GENERAL POWERS AND DUTIES
 
                       Part D--Primary Health Care
 
      subpart viii--bulk purchases of vaccines for certain programs
 
Sec. 256c. Bulk purchases of vaccines for certain programs


(a) Agreements for purchases

                           (1) In general

        Not later than 180 days after October 27, 1992, the Secretary, 
    acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and 
    Prevention and in consultation with the Administrator of the Health 
    Resources and Services Administration, shall enter into negotiations 
    with manufacturers of vaccines for the purpose of establishing and 
    maintaining agreements under which entities described in paragraph 
    (2) may purchase vaccines from the manufacturers at the prices 
    specified in the agreements.

                        (2) Relevant entities

        The entities referred to in paragraph (1) are entities that 
    provide immunizations against vaccine-preventable diseases with 
    assistance provided under section 254b of this title.

(b) Negotiation of prices

    In carrying out subsection (a) of this section, the Secretary shall, 
to the extent practicable, ensure that the prices provided for in 
agreements under such subsection are comparable to the prices provided 
for in agreements negotiated by the Secretary on behalf of grantees 
under section 247b(j)(1) of this title.

(c) Authority of Secretary

    In carrying out subsection (a) of this section, the Secretary, in 
the discretion of the Secretary, may enter into the agreements described 
in such subsection (and may decline to enter into such agreements), may 
modify such agreements, may extend such agreements, and may terminate 
such agreements.

(d) Rule of construction

    This section may not be construed as requiring any State to reduce 
or terminate the supply of vaccines provided by the State to any of the 
entities described in subsection (a)(2) of this section.

(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title III, Sec. 340C, formerly Sec. 340B, as 
added Pub. L. 102-531, title III, Sec. 305, Oct. 27, 1992, 106 Stat. 
3494; renumbered Sec. 340C, Pub. L. 103-43, title XX, 
Sec. 2008(i)(2)(A)(ii), June 10, 1993, 107 Stat. 213; amended Pub. L. 
104-299, Sec. 4(a)(2), Oct. 11, 1996, 110 Stat. 3645.)


                               Amendments

    1996--Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 104-299 substituted ``with assistance 
provided under section 254b of this title'' for ``under the programs 
established in sections 254b, 254c, 256, and 256a of this title.''


                    Effective Date of 1996 Amendment

    Amendment by Pub. L. 104-299 effective Oct. 1, 1996, see section 5 
of Pub. L. 104-299, as amended, set out as a note under section 233 of 
this title.
