--- kind: "section" citation: "25 U.S.C. § 1621m" title: "25" title_heading: "Indians" number: "1621m" heading: "Epidemiology centers" release: "119-102" date: "2026-07-12" url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/25/1621m" units: - "Chapter 18 — Indian Health Care" - "Subchapter II — Health Services" --- # §1621m. Epidemiology centers - (a) **Establishment of centers—** - (1) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/25/1603.md?p=17) shall establish an epidemiology center in each [Service area](/usc/25/1603.md?p=19) to carry out the functions described in [subsection (b)](#b). - (2) **New centers—** - (A) **In general—** Subject to [subparagraph (B)](#a-2-B), any new center established after March 23, 2010, may be operated under a grant authorized by [subsection (d)](#d). - (B) **Requirement—** Funding provided in a grant described in [subparagraph (A)](#a-2-A) shall not be divisible. - (3) **Funds not divisible—** An epidemiology center established under this subsection shall be subject to the [Indian](/usc/25/1603.md?p=13) Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act ([25 U.S.C. 450](/usc/25/450.md) et seq.),[^1] but the funds for the center shall not be divisible. - (b) **Functions of centers—** In consultation with and on the request of [Indian tribes](/usc/25/1603.md?p=14), [tribal organizations](/usc/25/1603.md?p=26), and [urban Indian organizations](/usc/25/1603.md?p=29), each [Service area](/usc/25/1603.md?p=19) epidemiology center established under this section shall, with respect to the applicable [Service area](/usc/25/1603.md?p=19)— - (1) collect data relating to, and monitor progress made toward meeting, each of the health status objectives of the [Service](/usc/25/1603.md?p=18), the [Indian tribes](/usc/25/1603.md?p=14), [tribal organizations](/usc/25/1603.md?p=26), and [urban Indian organizations](/usc/25/1603.md?p=29) in the [Service area](/usc/25/1603.md?p=19); - (2) evaluate existing delivery systems, data systems, and other systems that impact the improvement of [Indian](/usc/25/1603.md?p=13) health; - (3) assist [Indian tribes](/usc/25/1603.md?p=14), [tribal organizations](/usc/25/1603.md?p=26), and [urban Indian organizations](/usc/25/1603.md?p=29) in identifying highest-priority health status objectives and the [services](/usc/25/1603.md?p=18) needed to achieve those objectives, based on epidemiological data; - (4) make recommendations for the targeting of [services](/usc/25/1603.md?p=18) needed by the populations served; - (5) make recommendations to improve health care delivery systems for [Indians](/usc/25/1603.md?p=13) and [urban Indians](/usc/25/1603.md?p=28); - (6) provide requested technical assistance to [Indian tribes](/usc/25/1603.md?p=14), [tribal organizations](/usc/25/1603.md?p=26), and [urban Indian organizations](/usc/25/1603.md?p=29) in the development of local health [service](/usc/25/1603.md?p=18) priorities and incidence and prevalence rates of disease and other illness in the community; and - (7) provide disease surveillance and assist [Indian tribes](/usc/25/1603.md?p=14), [tribal organizations](/usc/25/1603.md?p=26), and [urban Indian](/usc/25/1603.md?p=28) communities to promote public health. - (c) **Technical assistance—** The Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shall provide technical assistance to the centers in carrying out this section. - (d) **Grants for studies—** - (1) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/25/1603.md?p=17) may make grants to [Indian tribes](/usc/25/1603.md?p=14), [tribal organizations](/usc/25/1603.md?p=26), [Indian](/usc/25/1603.md?p=13) organizations, and eligible intertribal consortia to conduct epidemiological studies of [Indian](/usc/25/1603.md?p=13) communities. - (2) **Eligible intertribal consortia—** An intertribal consortium or [Indian](/usc/25/1603.md?p=13) organization shall be eligible to receive a grant under this subsection if the intertribal consortium is— - (A) incorporated for the primary purpose of improving [Indian](/usc/25/1603.md?p=13) health; and - (B) representative of the [Indian tribes](/usc/25/1603.md?p=14) or [urban Indian](/usc/25/1603.md?p=28) communities residing in the area in which the intertribal consortium is located. - (3) **Applications—** An application for a grant under this subsection shall be submitted in such manner and at such time as the [Secretary](/usc/25/1603.md?p=17) shall prescribe. - (4) **Requirements—** An applicant for a grant under this subsection shall— - (A) demonstrate the technical, administrative, and financial expertise necessary to carry out the functions described in [paragraph (5)](#d-5); - (B) consult and cooperate with providers of related health and social [services](/usc/25/1603.md?p=18) in order to avoid duplication of existing [services](/usc/25/1603.md?p=18); and - (C) demonstrate cooperation from [Indian tribes](/usc/25/1603.md?p=14) or [urban Indian organizations](/usc/25/1603.md?p=29) in the area to be served. - (5) **Use of funds—** A grant provided under [paragraph (1)](#d-1) may be used— - (A) to carry out the functions described in [subsection (b)](#b); - (B) to provide information to, and consult with, tribal leaders, [urban Indian](/usc/25/1603.md?p=28) community leaders, and related health staff regarding health care and health [service](/usc/25/1603.md?p=18) management issues; and - (C) in collaboration with [Indian tribes](/usc/25/1603.md?p=14), [tribal organizations](/usc/25/1603.md?p=26), and [urban Indian organizations](/usc/25/1603.md?p=29), to provide to the [Service](/usc/25/1603.md?p=18) information regarding ways to improve the health status of [Indians](/usc/25/1603.md?p=13). - (e) **Access to information—** - (1) **In general—** An epidemiology center operated by a grantee pursuant to a grant awarded under [subsection (d)](#d) shall be treated as a public health authority (as defined in section 164.501 of title 45, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation)) for purposes of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (Public Law 104–191; 110 Stat. 1936). - (2) **Access to information—** The [Secretary](/usc/25/1603.md?p=17) shall grant to each epidemiology center described in [paragraph (1)](#e-1) access to use of the data, data sets, monitoring systems, delivery systems, and other protected health information in the possession of the [Secretary](/usc/25/1603.md?p=17). - (3) **Requirement—** The activities of an epidemiology center described in [paragraph (1)](#e-1) shall be for the purposes of research and for preventing and controlling disease, injury, or disability (as those activities are described in section 164.512 of title 45, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation)), for purposes of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (Public Law 104–191; 110 Stat. 1936). ## Footnotes [^1]: See References in Text note below. ## Source credit (Pub. L. 94–437, title II, § 214, as added Pub. L. 102–573, title II, § 210, Oct. 29, 1992, 106 Stat. 4551; amended Pub. L. 111–148, title X, § 10221(a), Mar. 23, 2010, 124 Stat. 935.) ## Notes ### Editorial Notes ### References in Text The Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450 et seq.), referred to in subsec. (a)(3), is Pub. L. 93–638, Jan. 4, 1975, 88 Stat. 2203, which was classified principally to subchapter II (§ 450 et seq.) of chapter 14 of this title prior to editorial reclassification as chapter 46 (§ 5301 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 5301 of this title and Tables. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, referred to in subsec. (e)(1), (3), is Pub. L. 104–191, Aug. 21, 1996, 110 Stat. 1936. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title of 1996 Amendments note set out under section 201 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, and Tables. ### Codification Amendment by Pub. L. 111–148 is based on section 130 of title I of S. 1790, One Hundred Eleventh Congress, as reported by the Committee on Indian Affairs of the Senate in Dec. 2009, which was enacted into law by section 10221(a) of Pub. L. 111–148. ### Amendments 2010—Pub. L. 111–148 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, section related to establishment and functions of epidemiology centers.