---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 285d–5"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "285d–5"
heading: "Arthritis and musculoskeletal diseases demonstration projects"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/285d-5"
units:
  - "Chapter 6A — Public Health Service"
  - "Subchapter III — National Research Institutes"
  - "Part C — Specific Provisions Respecting National Research Institutes"
  - "Subpart 4 — national institute of arthritis and musculoskeletal and skin diseases"
---

# §285d–5. Arthritis and musculoskeletal diseases demonstration projects

- (a) **Grants for establishment and support—** The [Director](/usc/42/11851.md?p=5) of the Institute may make grants to public and private [nonprofit](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=3) entities to establish and support [projects](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) for the development and demonstration of methods for screening, detection, and referral for [treatment](/usc/42/11851.md?p=11) of arthritis and musculoskeletal diseases and for the dissemination of information on such methods to the health and allied health professions. Activities under such [projects](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) shall be coordinated with Federal, [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f), local, and regional health [agencies](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1), centers assisted under [section 285d–6 of this title](/usc/42/285d–6.md), and the data system established under [subsection (c)](#c).
- (b) **Programs included—** [Projects](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) supported under this section shall include—
  - (1) [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) which emphasize the development and demonstration of new and improved methods of screening and early detection, referral for [treatment](/usc/42/11851.md?p=11), and diagnosis of individuals with a risk of developing arthritis and musculoskeletal diseases;
  - (2) [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) which emphasize the development and demonstration of new and improved methods for patient referral from local [hospitals](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=1) and physicians to appropriate centers for early diagnosis and [treatment](/usc/42/11851.md?p=11);
  - (3) [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) which emphasize the development and demonstration of new and improved means of standardizing patient data and recordkeeping;
  - (4) [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) which emphasize the development and demonstration of new and improved methods of dissemination of knowledge about the [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4), methods, and means referred to in paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) of this subsection to health and allied health professionals;
  - (5) [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) which emphasize the development and demonstration of new and improved methods for the dissemination to the general public of information—
    - (A) on the importance of early detection of arthritis and musculoskeletal diseases, of seeking prompt [treatment](/usc/42/11851.md?p=11), and of following an appropriate regimen; and
    - (B) to discourage the promotion and use of unapproved and ineffective diagnostic, preventive [treatment](/usc/42/11851.md?p=11), and control methods for arthritis and unapproved and ineffective [drugs](/usc/42/11851.md?p=4) and devices for arthritis and musculoskeletal diseases; and
  - (6) [projects](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) for investigation into the epidemiology of all forms and aspects of arthritis and musculoskeletal diseases, including investigations into the social, environmental, behavioral, nutritional, and genetic determinants and influences involved in the epidemiology of arthritis and musculoskeletal diseases.
- (c) **Standardization of patient data and recordkeeping—** The [Director](/usc/42/11851.md?p=5) shall provide for the standardization of patient data and recordkeeping for the collection, storage, analysis, retrieval, and dissemination of such data in cooperation with [projects](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) assisted under this section, centers assisted under [section 285d–6 of this title](/usc/42/285d–6.md), and other persons engaged in arthritis and musculoskeletal disease [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4).

## Source credit

(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title IV, § 440, as added Pub. L. 99–158, § 2, Nov. 20, 1985, 99 Stat. 850.)