---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 247b–19"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "247b–19"
heading: "Information and education"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/247b-19"
units:
  - "Chapter 6A — Public Health Service"
  - "Subchapter II — General Powers and Duties"
  - "Part B — Federal-State Cooperation"
---

# §247b–19. Information and education

- (a) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) of Health and Human [Services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) (referred to in this Act as the “[Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c)”) shall establish and implement a [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) to provide information and education on muscular dystrophy to health professionals and the general public, including information and education on advances in the diagnosis and [treatment](/usc/42/11851.md?p=11) of muscular dystrophy and training and continuing education through [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) for scientists, physicians, medical students, and other health professionals who provide care for patients with muscular dystrophy.
- (b) **Stipends—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) may use amounts made available under this section provides[^1] stipends for health professionals who are enrolled in training [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) under this section.
- (c) **Requirements—** In carrying out this section, the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) may—
  - (1) partner with leaders in the muscular dystrophy patient community;
  - (2) cooperate with professional organizations and the patient community in the development and issuance of care considerations for pediatric and adult patients, including acute care considerations, for Duchenne-Becker muscular dystrophy, and various other forms of muscular dystrophy, and in periodic review and updates, as appropriate;
  - (3) in developing and updating care considerations under [paragraph (2)](#c-2), incorporate strategies specifically responding to the findings of the national transitions survey of minority, young adult, and adult communities of muscular dystrophy patients; and
  - (4) widely disseminate the Duchenne-Becker muscular dystrophy and various other forms of muscular dystrophy care considerations as broadly as possible, including through partnership opportunities with the muscular dystrophy patient community.
- (d) **Authorization of appropriations—** There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.

## Footnotes

[^1]: So in original. Probably should be “to provide”.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 107–84, § 5, Dec. 18, 2001, 115 Stat. 828; Pub. L. 110–361, § 4, Oct. 8, 2008, 122 Stat. 4011; Pub. L. 113–166, § 4, Sept. 26, 2014, 128 Stat. 1880.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

This Act, referred to in subsec. (a), is Pub. L. 107–84, Dec. 18, 2001, 115 Stat. 823, known as the Muscular Dystrophy Community Assistance, Research and Education Amendments of 2001 and also as the MD–CARE Act. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title of 2001 Amendment note set out under section 201 of this title and Tables.

### Codification

Section was enacted as part of the Muscular Dystrophy Community Assistance, Research and Education Amendments of 2001, also known as the MD–CARE Act, and not as part of the Public Health Service Act which comprises this chapter.

### Amendments

2014—Subsec. (c)(2). Pub. L. 113–166, § 4(1), inserted “for pediatric and adult patients, including acute care considerations,” after “issuance of care considerations” and “various” before “other forms of muscular dystrophy” and struck out “and” at end.

Subsec. (c)(3), (4). Pub. L. 113–166, § 4(2)–(4), added par. (3), redesignated former par. (3) as (4), and, in par. (4), inserted “various” before “other forms of muscular dystrophy”.

2008—Subsecs. (c), (d). Pub. L. 110–361 added subsec. (c) and redesignated former subsec. (c) as (d).