---
kind: "section"
citation: "38 U.S.C. § 8157"
title: "38"
title_heading: "Veterans’ Benefits"
number: "8157"
heading: "Joint title to medical equipment"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/38/8157"
units:
  - "Part VI — Acquisition and Disposition of Property"
  - "Chapter 81 — Acquisition and Operation of Hospital and Domiciliary Facilities; Procurement and Supply; Enhanced-Use Leases of Real Property"
  - "Subchapter IV — Sharing of Medical Facilities, Equipment, and Information"
---

# §8157. Joint title to medical equipment

- (a) Subject to [subsection (b)](#b), the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) may enter into agreements with institutions described in [section 8153(a) of this title](/usc/38/8153.md?p=a) for the joint acquisition of medical equipment.
- (b)
  - (1) The [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) may not pay more than one-half of the purchase price of equipment acquired through an agreement under [subsection (a)](#a).
  - (2) Any equipment to be procured under such an agreement shall be procured by the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1). Title to such equipment shall be held jointly by the United States and the institution.
  - (3) Before equipment acquired under such an agreement may be used, the parties to the agreement shall arrange by contract under [section 8153 of this title](/usc/38/8153.md) for the exchange or use of the equipment.
  - (4) The [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) may not contract for the acquisition of medical equipment to be purchased jointly under an agreement under [subsection (a)](#a) until the institution which enters into the agreement provides to the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) its share of the purchase price of the medical equipment.
- (c)
  - (1) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) may transfer the interest of the [Department](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) in equipment acquired through an agreement under [subsection (a)](#a) to the institution which holds joint title to the equipment if the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) determines that the transfer would be justified by compelling clinical considerations or the economic interest of the [Department](/usc/38/101.md?p=1). Any such transfer may only be made upon agreement by the institution to pay to the [Department](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) the amount equal to one-half of the depreciated purchase price of the equipment. Any such payment when received shall be credited to the applicable [Department](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) medical appropriation.
  - (2) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) may acquire the interest of an institution in equipment acquired under [subsection (a)](#a) if the [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) determines that the acquisition would be justified by compelling clinical considerations or the economic interests of the [Department](/usc/38/101.md?p=1). The [Secretary](/usc/38/101.md?p=1) may not pay more than one-half the depreciated purchase price of that equipment.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 102–405, title I, § 103(a)(1), Oct. 9, 1992, 106 Stat. 1973.)