---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 300ff–87"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "300ff–87"
heading: "Severity of need index"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/300ff-87"
units:
  - "Chapter 6A — Public Health Service"
  - "Subchapter XXIV — Hiv Health Care Services Program"
  - "Part E — General Provisions"
---

# §300ff–87. Severity of need index

- (a) **Development of index—** Not later than September 30, 2008, the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) shall develop and submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a severity of need index in accordance with [subsection (c)](#c).
- (b) **Definition of severity of need index—** In this section, the term “severity of need index” means the index of the relative needs of individuals within a [State](/usc/42/300ff–88.md?p=11-A) or area, as identified by a number of different factors, and is a factor or set of factors that is multiplied by the number of living [HIV/AIDS](/usc/42/300ff–88.md?p=7-A) cases in a [State](/usc/42/300ff–88.md?p=11-A) or area, providing different weights to those cases based on needs. Such factors or set of factors may be different for different components of the provisions under this subchapter.
- (c) **Requirements for Secretarial submission—** When the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) submits to the appropriate committees of Congress the severity of need index under [subsection (a)](#a), the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) shall provide the following:
  - (1) Methodology for and rationale behind developing the severity of need index, including information related to the field testing of the severity of need index.
  - (2) An independent contractor analysis of activities carried out under [paragraph (1)](#c-1).
  - (3) Information regarding the process by which the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) received community input regarding the application and development of the severity of need index.
- (d) **Annual reports—** If the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) fails to submit the severity of need index under [subsection (a)](#a) in either of fiscal years 2007 or 2008, the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) shall prepare and submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report for such fiscal year—
  - (1) that updates progress toward having client level data;
  - (2) that updates the progress toward having a severity of need index, including information related to the methodology and process for obtaining community input; and
  - (3) that, as applicable, [states](/usc/42/300ff–88.md?p=11-A) whether the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) could develop a severity of need index before fiscal year 2009.

## Source credit

(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title XXVI, § 2687, as added and amended Pub. L. 109–415, title V, § 501, title VII, § 703, Dec. 19, 2006, 120 Stat. 2814, 2820; Pub. L. 111–87, § 2(a)(1), (3)(A), Oct. 30, 2009, 123 Stat. 2885.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 300ff–87, act July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title XXVI, § 2687, as added Pub. L. 101–381, title IV, § 411(a), Aug. 18, 1990, 104 Stat. 627, related to limitations with respect to duties of medical facilities, prior to the general amendment of this part by Pub. L. 109–415.

### Amendments

2009—Pub. L. 111–87 repealed Pub. L. 109–415, § 703, and revived the provisions of this section as in effect on Sept. 30, 2009. See 2006 Amendment note and Effective Date of 2009 Amendment; Revival of Section note below.

2006—Pub. L. 109–415, § 703, which directed repeal of this section effective Oct. 1, 2009, was itself repealed by Pub. L. 111–87, § 2(a)(1), effective Sept. 30, 2009.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 2009 Amendment; Revival of Section

For provisions that repeal by section 2(a)(1) of Pub. L. 111–87 of section 703 of Pub. L. 109–415 be effective Sept. 30, 2009, and that the provisions of this section as in effect on Sept. 30, 2009, be revived, see section 2(a)(2), (3)(A) of Pub. L. 111–87, set out as a note under section 300ff–11 of this title.