42 U.S.C. § 254a — Sharing of medical care facilities and resources

(a) Definitions — In this section: (1) "Specialized health resources" means health care resources — equipment, space, or personnel — that are either unique in the health care community, or so limited or costly that they're best used through mutual sharing arrangements. (2) "Hospital," unless the text says otherwise, includes any federal hospital in addition to other hospitals. (b) Statement of purpose; agreements or arrangements; reciprocity; reimbursement; credits — To keep or improve the quality of care at Public Health Service facilities, build a professional environment that helps attract and keep skilled health workers, encourage helpful relationships between Public Health Service facilities and other health facilities in the community, and get the most use out of hospitals and other health facilities and resources, the Secretary can: (1) make agreements with schools of medicine, schools of osteopathic medicine, and other health-professions schools, agencies, or institutions, to share or trade the use of facilities and services — on a reciprocal or paid basis — when doing so benefits the participating agencies' training or research programs; and (2) make agreements with hospitals and other health care facilities to share or trade the use of specialized health resources, with reimbursement flowing both ways. Any reimbursement under these agreements must be based on charges that reflect the reasonable cost of that use, including normal depreciation and amortization of equipment. Any money the government receives this way must be credited to the Public Health Service's applicable appropriation for the year it's received.