---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 300hh–16"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "300hh–16"
heading: "At-risk individuals"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/300hh-16"
units:
  - "Chapter 6A — Public Health Service"
  - "Subchapter XXVI — National All-Hazards Preparedness for Public Health Emergencies"
  - "Part B — All-Hazards Emergency Preparedness and Response"
---

# §300hh–16. At-risk individuals


The [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c), acting through such [employee](/usc/42/300gg–91.md?p=d-5) of the Department of Health and Human [Services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) as determined by the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) and designated publicly (which may, at the discretion of the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c), involve the appointment or designation of an individual as the [Director](/usc/42/11851.md?p=5) of At-Risk Individuals), shall—

- (1) monitor emerging issues and concerns as they relate to medical and public health preparedness and response for at-risk individuals in the event of a public health emergency declared by the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) under [section 247d of this title](/usc/42/247d.md);
- (2) oversee the implementation of the preparedness goals described in [section 300hh–1(b) of this title](/usc/42/300hh–1.md?p=b) with respect to the public health and medical needs of at-risk individuals in the event of a public health emergency, as described in [section 300hh–1(b)(4) of this title](/usc/42/300hh–1.md?p=b-4);
- (3) assist other Federal [agencies](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) responsible for planning for, responding to, and recovering from public health emergencies in addressing the needs of at-risk individuals;
- (4) provide guidance to and ensure that recipients of [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) and local public health grants include preparedness and response strategies and capabilities that take into account the medical and public health needs of at-risk individuals in the event of a public health emergency, as described in [section 247d–3a(b)(2)(A)(iii) of this title](/usc/42/247d–3a.md?p=b-2-A-iii);
- (5) ensure that the contents of the strategic national stockpile take into account at-risk populations as described in [section 300hh–1(b)(4)(B) of this title](/usc/42/300hh–1.md?p=b-4-B);
- (6) oversee curriculum development for the public health and medical response training [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) on medical management of casualties, as it concerns at-risk individuals as described in subparagraphs (A) through (C) of [section 247d–6(a)(2) of this title](/usc/42/247d–6.md?p=a-2);
- (7) disseminate and, as appropriate, update novel and best [practices](/usc/42/17061.md?p=19) of outreach to and care of at-risk individuals before, during, and following public health emergencies in as timely a manner as is practicable, including from the time a public health threat is identified;
- (8) ensure that public health and medical information distributed by the Department of Health and Human [Services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) during a public health emergency is delivered in a manner that takes into account the range of communication needs of the intended recipients, including at-risk individuals; and
- (9) facilitate coordination to ensure that, in implementing the situational awareness and biosurveillance network under [section 247d–4 of this title](/usc/42/247d–4.md), the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) considers incorporating data and information from Federal, [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f), local, Tribal, and territorial public health officials and entities relevant to detecting emerging public health threats that may affect at-risk individuals, such as pregnant and postpartum women and infants, including adverse health outcomes of such populations related to such emerging public health threats.

## Source credit

(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title XXVIII, § 2814, as added Pub. L. 109–417, title I, § 102(d), Dec. 19, 2006, 120 Stat. 2834; amended Pub. L. 113–5, title I, § 101(b), Mar. 13, 2013, 127 Stat. 163; Pub. L. 116–22, title III, § 303(c), June 24, 2019, 133 Stat. 935.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2019—Par. (9). Pub. L. 116–22 added par. (9).

2013—Par. (1). Pub. L. 113–5, § 101(b)(4), added par. (1). Former par. (1) redesignated (2).

Par. (2). Pub. L. 113–5, § 101(b)(3), (5), redesignated par. (1) as (2) and amended it generally. Prior to amendment, par. (2) read as follows: “oversee the implementation of the National Preparedness goal of taking into account the public health and medical needs of at-risk individuals in the event of a public health emergency, as described in section 300hh–1(b)(4) of this title;”. Former par. (2) redesignated (3).

Par. (3). Pub. L. 113–5, § 101(b)(3), redesignated par. (2) as (3). Former par. (3) redesignated (4).

Par. (4). Pub. L. 113–5, § 101(b)(3), redesignated par. (3) as (4). Former par. (4) redesignated (5).

Pub. L. 113–5, § 101(b)(2), substituted “300hh–1(b)(4)(B)” for “300hh–10(b)(3)(B)”.

Par. (5). Pub. L. 113–5, § 101(b)(1), (3), redesignated par. (4) as (5) and struck out former par. (5) which read as follows: “oversee the progress of the Advisory Committee on At-Risk Individuals and Public Health Emergencies established under section 247d–6(b)(2) of this title and make recommendations with a focus on opportunities for action based on the work of the Committee;”.

Pars. (7), (8). Pub. L. 113–5, § 101(b)(1), (6), added pars. (7) and (8) and struck out former pars. (7) and (8) which read as follows:

“(7) disseminate novel and best practices of outreach to and care of at-risk individuals before, during, and following public health emergencies; and

“(8) not later than one year after December 19, 2006, prepare and submit to Congress a report describing the progress made on implementing the duties described in this section.”