42 U.S.C. § 285m–3 — Multipurpose deafness and other communication disorders center

(a) Development, modernization, and operation: After consulting the Institute's advisory council, the Director must help develop, modernize, and run new and existing centers that study hearing and communication disorders, including covering the care needed for research. "Modernization" here means altering, remodeling, improving, expanding, and repairing existing buildings, and equipping them to work as these centers. (b) Use of facilities; qualifications: Every assisted center must (1) use the facilities of one institution or a group of cooperating institutions, and (2) meet whatever qualifications the Secretary sets. (c) Requisite programs: Every assisted center must run, at minimum: (1) basic and clinical research into the causes, diagnosis, early detection, prevention, control, and treatment of hearing and communication disorders and their complications — including research into rehabilitation aids, implantable biomaterials, auditory speech processors, speech-production devices, and other ear-nose-throat procedures; (2) training programs for physicians, scientists, and other health professionals; (3) information and continuing-education programs for physicians and other health professionals who treat patients with these disorders; and (4) public information programs about (A) the importance of catching these disorders early, getting treatment quickly, and following the recommended plan, and (B) the importance of avoiding loud noise and other toxic exposures that can cause these disorders. (d) Stipends: A center may use its funding to pay stipends to health professionals enrolled in the training programs described in (c)(2). (e) Discretionary programs: A center may also run programs to (1) prove how effective new or improved detection, referral, and diagnosis methods are for people at risk, and (2) share research and screening results, and help standardize how patient data and records are kept. (f) Equitable geographical distribution: As much as practical, the Director must spread these centers out fairly across the country, and must give special thought to centers suited to the needs of the elderly and of children — especially regarding their education and training. (g) Period of support: A center's support can last up to seven years. The Director can extend that for one or more extra periods of up to five years each, but only if a technical and scientific peer review group — after consulting the advisory council — reviews the center's work and recommends the extension.