---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 1397m–5"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "1397m–5"
heading: "Rule of construction"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/1397m-5"
units:
  - "Chapter 7 — Social Security"
  - "Subchapter XX — Block Grants and Programs for Social Services and Elder Justice"
  - "Division B — Elder Justice"
  - "Part II — Programs To Promote Elder Justice"
---

# §1397m–5. Rule of construction


Nothing in this division shall be construed as—

- (1) limiting any cause of action or other relief related to obligations under this division that is available under the law of any [State](/usc/42/619.md?p=5), or political subdivision thereof; or
- (2) creating a private cause of action for a [violation](/usc/42/2000e–16a.md?p=c) of this division.

## Source credit

(Aug. 14, 1935, ch. 531, title XX, § 2046, as added Pub. L. 111–148, title VI, § 6703(a)(1)(C), Mar. 23, 2010, 124 Stat. 798.)