### **CHAPTER 73—VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION—ORGANIZATION AND FUNCTIONS**

#### SUBCHAPTER I—ORGANIZATION

Sec.
7301.
Functions of Veterans Health Administration: in general.
7302.
Functions of Veterans Health Administration: health-care personnel education and training programs.
7303.
Functions of Veterans Health Administration: research programs.
7304.
Regulations.
7305.
Divisions of Veterans Health Administration.
7306.
Office of the Under Secretary for Health.
7307.
Office of Research Oversight.
7308.
Office of Rural Health.
7309.
Readjustment Counseling Service.
7309A.
Office of Patient Advocacy.
7310.
Office of Women's Health.
7310A.
Annual reports on women's health.

#### SUBCHAPTER II—GENERAL AUTHORITY AND ADMINISTRATION

7311.
Quality assurance.
7311A.
Quality management officers.
7312.
Special medical advisory group.
7313.
Advisory committees: affiliated institutions.
7314.
Geriatric research, education, and clinical centers.
7315.
Geriatrics and Gerontology Advisory Committee.
7316.
Malpractice and negligence suits: defense by United States.
7317.
Hazardous research projects: indemnification of contractors.
7318.
National Center for Preventive Health.
7319.
Mammography quality standards.
7320.
Centers for mental illness research, education, and clinical activities.
7321.
Committee on Care of Severely Chronically Mentally Ill Veterans.
7321A.
Committee on Care of Veterans with Traumatic Brain Injury.
7322.
Breast cancer mammography policy.
7323.
Required consultations with nurses.
7324.
Annual report on use of authorities to enhance retention of experienced nurses.
7325.
Medical emergency preparedness centers.
7326.
Education and training programs on medical response to consequences of terrorist activities.
7327.
Centers for research, education, and clinical activities on complex multi-trauma associated with combat injuries.
7328.
Medical preparedness centers.
7329.
Parkinson's Disease research, education, and clinical centers.
7330.
Multiple sclerosis centers of excellence.
7330A.
Epilepsy centers of excellence.
7330B.
Annual report on Veterans Health Administration and furnishing of hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care.
7330C.
Quadrennial Veterans Health Administration review.
7330D.
Inapplicability of Paperwork Reduction Act to research activities.

#### SUBCHAPTER III—PROTECTION OF PATIENT RIGHTS

7331.
Informed consent.
7332.
Confidentiality of certain medical records.
7333.
Nondiscrimination against alcohol and drug abusers and persons infected with the human immunodeficiency virus.
7334.
Regulations.

#### SUBCHAPTER IV—RESEARCH CORPORATIONS

7361.
Authority to establish; status.
7362.
Purpose of corporations.
7363.
Board of directors; executive director.
7364.
General powers.
[7364A.
Renumbered.]
7365.
Coverage of employees under certain Federal tort claims laws.
7366.
Accountability and oversight.
[7367, 7368. Repealed.]

#### SUBCHAPTER V—RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

7381.
Office of Research and Development.
7382.
Research personnel.

#### **Editorial Notes**

#### Amendments

**2022**—Pub. L. 117–328, div. U, title I, §182(b), Dec. 29, 2022, 136 Stat. 5436, added item for subchapter V and items 7381 and 7382.

Pub. L. 117–328, div. U, title I, §181(b), Dec. 29, 2022, 136 Stat. 5435, which directed amendment of subchapter analysis for this chapter by adding item 7330D, was executed by making the amendment to the analysis for this chapter, to reflect the probable intent of Congress. Item was editorially conformed to the style used in this title.

**2021**—Pub. L. 116–315, title V, §5101(b)(3), Jan. 5, 2021, 134 Stat. 5026, added items 7310 and 7310A.

**2018**—Pub. L. 115–182, title I, §106(b), June 6, 2018, 132 Stat. 1415, added item 7330C.

**2016**—Pub. L. 114–315, title VI, §612(b), Dec. 16, 2016, 130 Stat. 1576, added item 7330B.

Pub. L. 114–198, title IX, §924(b), July 22, 2016, 130 Stat. 769, added item 7309A.

**2013**—Pub. L. 112–239, div. A, title VII, §728(b), Jan. 2, 2013, 126 Stat. 1813, added item 7309.

**2010**—Pub. L. 111–275, title X, §1001(n)(1), Oct. 13, 2010, 124 Stat. 2897, substituted "the human immunodeficiency virus" for "human immunodeficiency virus" in item 7333.

Pub. L. 111–163, title V, §§505(a)(2), 515(b), title VIII, §805(b), May 5, 2010, 124 Stat. 1159, 1166, 1179, added items 7311A, 7321A, and 7365 and struck out former items 7364A "Coverage of employees under certain Federal tort claims laws" and 7365 "Applicable State law".

**2008**—Pub. L. 110–387, title IV, §404(b), title VIII, §806(b), Oct. 10, 2008, 122 Stat. 4129, 4141, added item 7330A and struck out item 7368 "Expiration of authority".

**2006**—Pub. L. 109–461, title X, §1006(b), Dec. 22, 2006, 120 Stat. 3468, provided that as of the enactment of Pub. L. 109–461, the amendments made by Pub. L. 109–444 were deemed for all purposes not to have taken effect and that Pub. L. 109–444 ceased to be in effect. See Amendment notes below and section 1006(b) of Pub. L. 109–461, set out as a Coordination of Provisions With Pub. L. 109–444 note under section 101 of this title.

Pub. L. 109–461, title II, §§209(a)(2), 212(a)(2), Dec. 22, 2006, 120 Stat. 3418, 3422, added items 7308, 7329, and 7330.

Pub. L. 109–444, §6(a)(2), Dec. 21, 2006, 120 Stat. 3312, which added items 7329 and 7330, was terminated by Pub. L. 109–461, §1006(b). See Amendment notes above.

**2004**—Pub. L. 108–422, title III, §§302(a)(2), 303(c)(2), Nov. 30, 2004, 118 Stat. 2385, 2387, added items 7327 and 7328.

**2003**—Pub. L. 108–170, title IV, §§401(a)(2), 402(a)(2), Dec. 6, 2003, 117 Stat. 2061, 2062, added items 7307 and 7364A.

**2002**—Pub. L. 107–287, §§2(a)(2), 3(a)(2), Nov. 7, 2002, 116 Stat. 2027, 2028, added items 7325 and 7326.

Pub. L. 107–135, title I, §125(a)(2), Jan. 23, 2002, 115 Stat. 2453, added item 7324.

**2001**—Pub. L. 107–14, §8(a)(14)(B), June 5, 2001, 115 Stat. 35, struck out item 7367 "Report to Congress".

**2000**—Pub. L. 106–419, title II, §201(b)(2), Nov. 1, 2000, 114 Stat. 1840, added item 7323.

**1997**—Pub. L. 105–114, title II, §208(a)(2), Nov. 21, 1997, 111 Stat. 2289, added item 7322.

**1996**—Pub. L. 104–262, title III, §§321(a)(2), 334(a)(2), 335(b), Oct. 9, 1996, 110 Stat. 3195, 3203, 3205, added items 7319 to 7321.

**1994**—Pub. L. 103–446, title XII, §1201(h)(3), Nov. 2, 1994, 108 Stat. 4688, inserted "PROTECTION OF" before "PATIENT" in heading for subchapter III.

**1992**—Pub. L. 102–585, title V, §511(a)(2), Nov. 4, 1992, 106 Stat. 4956, added item 7318.

Pub. L. 102–405, title III, §302(c)(1), Oct. 9, 1992, 106 Stat. 1984, substituted "Under Secretary for Health" for "Chief Medical Director" in item 7306.

**1991**—Pub. L. 102–40, title IV, §401(a)(1), (3), May 7, 1991, 105 Stat. 210, substituted "VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION—ORGANIZATION AND FUNCTIONS" for "DEPARTMENT OF MEDICINE AND SURGERY" as chapter heading, added analysis for subchapters I to IV, and struck out former analysis consisting of subchapter I containing items 4101 to 4119 and 4210, subchapter II containing items 4121 to 4124, subchapter III containing items 4131 to 4134, subchapter IV containing items 4141 and 4142, subchapter V containing items 4151 and 4152, and subchapter VI containing items 4161 to 4168.

**1990**—Pub. L. 101–366, title I, §102(d), Aug. 15, 1990, 104 Stat. 436, added heading for subchapter IV and items 4141 and 4142.

**1988**—Pub. L. 100–322, title I, §122(b), title II, §§204(b), 212(a)(2), 216(e)(1), May 20, 1988, 102 Stat. 504, 512, 516, 530, added item 4210 [4120] after item 4119, substituted "Nondiscrimination against alcohol and drug abusers and persons infected with human immunodeficiency virus" for "Nondiscrimination in the admission of alcohol and drug abusers to Veterans' Administration health care facilities" in item 4133, substituted "Regulations" for "Coordination; reports" in item 4134, struck out heading for Subchapter IV, "VETERANS' ADMINISTRATION HEALTH PROFESSIONAL SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM" and items 4141 "Establishment of program; purpose; duration", 4142 "Eligibility; application; written contract", 4143 "Obligated service", 4144 "Breach of contract; liability; waiver", 4145 "Exemption of scholarship payments from taxation", and 4146 "Program subject to availability of appropriations", and added heading for subchapter VI and items 4161 to 4168.

**1986**—Pub. L. 99–576, title VII, §702(12), Oct. 28, 1986, 100 Stat. 3302, substituted "appointments" for "appointment" in item 4106.

**1985**—Pub. L. 99–166, title II, §204(a)(2), Dec. 3, 1985, 99 Stat. 952, added heading for subchapter V and items 4151 and 4152.

**1980**—Pub. L. 96–330, title I, §116(a)(2), title II, §201(a)(2), Aug. 26, 1980, 94 Stat. 1039, 1047, added item 4119, heading for subchapter IV and items 4141 to 4146.

**1976**—Pub. L. 94–581, title I, §111(a)(2), Oct. 21, 1976, 90 Stat. 2852, added analysis for subchapter III consisting of items 4131 to 4134.

**1975**—Pub. L. 94–123, §2(d)(2), Oct. 22, 1975, 89 Stat. 673, added item 4118.

**1973**—Pub. L. 93–82, title II, §204(b), Aug. 2, 1973, 87 Stat. 192, substituted "Personnel administration" for "Administration" in item 4108.

**1972**—Pub. L. 92–541, §3(b), Oct. 24, 1972, 86 Stat. 1108, designated existing sections as subchapter I and added subchapter II.

**1966**—Pub. L. 89–785, title I, §§109(b), 111(d), 112(b), Nov. 7, 1966, 80 Stat. 1371, 1372, substituted "Special Medical Advisory group; other advisory bodies" for "Medical advisory Group" in item 4112, and "Temporary full-time, part-time, and without compensation appointments" for "Temporary and part-time appointments" in item 4114, and added item 4117.

**1965**—Pub. L. 89–311, §6(b), Oct. 31, 1965, 79 Stat. 1157, added item 4116.

**1964**—Pub. L. 88–426, title I, §117(b), Aug. 14, 1964, 78 Stat. 410, substituted "Office of the Chief Medical Director" for "Appointments and compensation" in item 4103.

**1962**—Pub. L. 87–793, §803(b), Oct. 11, 1962, 76 Stat. 861, substituted "Administration" for "Specialist ratings" in item 4108.

Pub. L. 87–574, §4(3), Aug. 6, 1962, 76 Stat. 309, inserted "; residencies and internships" in item 4114.