---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 300d–46"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "300d–46"
heading: "Definition"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/300d-46"
units:
  - "Chapter 6A — Public Health Service"
  - "Subchapter X — Trauma Care"
  - "Part D — Trauma Centers Operating in Areas Severely Affected by Drug-Related Violence"
---

# §300d–46. Definition


In this part, the term “uncompensated care costs” means unreimbursed costs from serving self-pay, charity, or Medicaid patients, without regard to payment under [section 1396r–4 of this title](/usc/42/1396r–4.md), all of which are attributable to emergency care and [trauma](/usc/42/300d–31.md?p=4) care, including costs related to subsequent inpatient admissions to the [hospital](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=1).


## Source credit

(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title XII, § 1246, as added Pub. L. 111–148, title III, § 3505(a)(6), Mar. 23, 2010, 124 Stat. 525.)