Washington : Government Printing Office
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| Public Law 85-151 | Indian health facilities. Assistance. 42 U. S. C. 2001-2004. |
| Sec. 2 | 371 Restriction on amount. |
| Sec. 3 | Condition. |
| Sec. 3 | 60 Stat. 1041. 42 U. S. C. 291-291n. Payment. |
| Sec. 5 | Eligibility for construction aid. |
| Sec. 6 | Definitions. |
| Sec. 7 | 372 Administration, etc. |
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That whenever the Surgeon General of the Public Health Service, in carrying out his functions under the Act of August 5, 1954 (68 Stat. 674) with respect to the provision of health services to Indians in any particular area, determines, after consultation with such Indians, that the provision of financial assistance to one or more public or other nonprofit agencies or organizations for the construction of a community hospital constitutes
a method of making needed hospital facilities available for such Indians which is more desirable and effective than direct Federal construction, he may provide such financial assistance from funds available for the construction of Indian health facilities for such Indians.
The amount of such financial assistance shall not exceed that portion of the reasonable cost of the construction project which is attributable to the Indian health needs, as determined by the Surgeon General: Provided, That in determining, for the purposes of this Act, the portion of the cost of the construction project attributable to Indian health needs, the Surgeon General shall take into account only those categories of Indians for which hospital and medical care, including outpatient care and field health services, is being provided by or at the expense of the Public Health Service on the date of enactment of this Act.
As a condition to providing assistance under section 1, the Surgeon General shall—
(a) require plans and specifications meeting such standards of construction and equipment as he may prescribe, and
(b) obtain such assurances and agreements as in his judgment are equitable in the light of the financial assistance provided under this Act and are necessary to assure the availability of the facility for the provision of hospital and medical care to Indians and to assure that the hospital is operated in compliance with State standards for operation and maintenance of hospitals which receive Federal aid under title VI of the Public Health Service Act (42 U. S. C., ch. 6A, subch. IV).
The Surgeon General shall make payments under section 1 in advance or by way of reimbursement and in such installments consistent with construction progress, as he may determine.
Neither assistance provided under this Act for meeting part of the cost of construction of a hospital project, nor the giving of any assurance required as a condition of such assistance, shall be construed as affecting in any way the eligibility of such project for aid under title VI of the Public Health Service Act or any other Federal Act authorizing financial aid in the construction of such project, but construction costs met with Federal funds made available under this Act shall not be included in the cost of construction in which the Federal Government shares under such title VI or other Federal Act.
As used in this Act:
(a) "Hospital" includes diagnostic or treatment centers and general hospitals, and related facilities, such as laboratories, outpatient departments, nurses' home and training facilities, and central service facilities operated in connection with hospitals, but does not include any hospital furnishing primarily domiciliary care;
(b) "Diagnostic or treatment center" means a facility for the diagnosis or diagnosis and treatment of ambulatory patients—
(1) which is operated in connection with a hospital, or
(2) in which patient care is under the professional supervision of persons licensed to practice medicine or surgery in the
State, or, in the case of dental diagnosis or treatment, under the professional supervision of persons licensed to practice
dentistry in the State.
(c) "Nonprofit" means owned or operated by one or more corporations or associations no part of the net earnings of which inures, or may lawfully inure, to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual.
(d) "Construction" means construction of new buildings, expansion, remodeling, and alteration of existing buildings, and initial equipment of any such buildings (including medical transportation facilities),
including architects and engineering fees, but excluding legal fees, the cost of off-site improvements and the cost of the acquisition of land.
Except as otherwise specifically provided, nothing in this Act shall be construed as conferring on any Federal officer or employee the right to exercise any supervision or control over the administration, personnel, maintenance, or operation of any hospital, with respect to which any funds have been or may be expended under this Act.
Approved, August 16, 1957.
