---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 300jj–34"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "300jj–34"
heading: "Competitive grants to States and Indian tribes for the development of loan programs to facilitate the widespread adoption of certified EHR technology"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/300jj-34"
units:
  - "Chapter 6A — Public Health Service"
  - "Subchapter XXVIII — Health Information Technology and Quality"
  - "Part B — Incentives for the Use of Health Information Technology"
---

# §300jj–34. Competitive grants to States and Indian tribes for the development of loan programs to facilitate the widespread adoption of certified EHR technology

- (a) **In general—** The [National Coordinator](/usc/42/300jj.md?p=11) may award competitive grants to eligible entities for the establishment of [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) for loans to [health care providers](/usc/42/300jj.md?p=3) to conduct the activities described in [subsection (e)](#e).
- (b) **Eligible entity defined—** For purposes of this subsection, the term “eligible entity” means a [State](/usc/42/300ii.md?p=8) or Indian tribe (as defined in the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act [[25 U.S.C. 5301](/usc/25/5301.md) et seq.]) that—
  - (1) submits to the [National Coordinator](/usc/42/300jj.md?p=11) an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the [National Coordinator](/usc/42/300jj.md?p=11) may require;
  - (2) submits to the [National Coordinator](/usc/42/300jj.md?p=11) a strategic plan in accordance with [subsection (d)](#d) and provides to the [National Coordinator](/usc/42/300jj.md?p=11) assurances that the entity will update such plan annually in accordance with such subsection;
  - (3) provides assurances to the [National Coordinator](/usc/42/300jj.md?p=11) that the entity will establish a Loan Fund in accordance with [subsection (c)](#c);
  - (4) provides assurances to the [National Coordinator](/usc/42/300jj.md?p=11) that the entity will not provide a loan from the Loan Fund to a [health care provider](/usc/42/300jj.md?p=3) unless the [provider](/usc/42/299b–21.md?p=8) agrees to—
    - (A) submit reports on quality measures adopted by the Federal Government (by not later than 90 days after the date on which such measures are adopted), to—
      - (i) the [Administrator](/usc/42/300bb–8.md?p=4) of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid [Services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) (or his or her designee), in the case of an entity participating in the Medicare [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) under title XVIII of the Social Security Act [[42 U.S.C. 1395](/usc/42/1395.md) et seq.] or the Medicaid [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) under title XIX of such Act [[42 U.S.C. 1396](/usc/42/1396.md) et seq.]; or
      - (ii) the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) in the case of other entities;
    - (B) demonstrate to the satisfaction of the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) (through criteria established by the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c)) that any [certified EHR technology](/usc/42/300jj.md?p=1) purchased, improved, or otherwise financially supported under a loan under this section is used to [exchange](/usc/42/300gg–91.md?p=d-21) [health information](/usc/42/300jj.md?p=4) in a manner that, in accordance with law and standards (as adopted under [section 300jj–14 of this title](/usc/42/300jj–14.md)) applicable to the [exchange](/usc/42/300gg–91.md?p=d-21) of information, improves the quality of health care, such as promoting care coordination; and[^1]
    - (C) comply with such other requirements as the entity or the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) may require;
    - (D) include a plan on how [health care providers](/usc/42/300jj.md?p=3) involved intend to maintain and support the [certified EHR technology](/usc/42/300jj.md?p=1) over time;
    - (E) include a plan on how the [health care providers](/usc/42/300jj.md?p=3) involved intend to maintain and support the [certified EHR technology](/usc/42/300jj.md?p=1) that would be purchased with such loan, including the type of resources expected to be involved and any such other information as the [State](/usc/42/300ii.md?p=8) or Indian Tribe, respectively, may require; and
  - (5) agrees to provide matching funds in accordance with [subsection (h)](#h).
- (c) **Establishment of fund—** For purposes of [subsection (b)(3)](#b-3), an eligible entity shall establish a [certified EHR technology](/usc/42/300jj.md?p=1) loan fund (referred to in this subsection as a “Loan Fund”) and comply with the other requirements contained in this section. A grant to an eligible entity under this section shall be deposited in the Loan Fund established by the eligible entity. No funds authorized by other provisions of this subchapter to be used for other purposes specified in this subchapter shall be deposited in any Loan Fund.
- (d) **Strategic plan—**
  - (1) **In general—** For purposes of [subsection (b)(2)](#b-2), a strategic plan of an eligible entity under this subsection shall identify the intended uses of amounts available to the Loan Fund of such entity.
  - (2) **Contents—** A strategic plan under [paragraph (1)](#d-1), with respect to a Loan Fund of an eligible entity, shall include for a year the following:
    - (A) A list of the [projects](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) to be assisted through the Loan Fund during such year.
    - (B) A description of the criteria and methods established for the distribution of funds from the Loan Fund during the year.
    - (C) A description of the financial status of the Loan Fund as of the date of submission of the plan.
    - (D) The short-term and long-term goals of the Loan Fund.
- (e) **Use of funds—** Amounts deposited in a Loan Fund, including loan repayments and interest earned on such amounts, shall be used only for awarding loans or loan guarantees, making reimbursements described in [subsection (g)(4)(A)](#g-4-A), or as a source of reserve and security for leveraged loans, the proceeds of which are deposited in the Loan Fund established under [subsection (c)](#c). Loans under this section may be used by a [health care provider](/usc/42/300jj.md?p=3) to—
  - (1) facilitate the purchase of [certified EHR technology](/usc/42/300jj.md?p=1);
  - (2) enhance the utilization of [certified EHR technology](/usc/42/300jj.md?p=1) (which may include costs associated with upgrading [health information technology](/usc/42/300jj.md?p=5) so that it meets criteria necessary to be a [certified EHR technology](/usc/42/300jj.md?p=1));
  - (3) train personnel in the use of such technology; or
  - (4) improve the secure electronic [exchange](/usc/42/300gg–91.md?p=d-21) of [health information](/usc/42/300jj.md?p=4).
- (f) **Types of assistance—** Except as otherwise limited by applicable [State](/usc/42/300ii.md?p=8) law, amounts deposited into a Loan Fund under this section may only be used for the following:
  - (1) To award loans that comply with the following:
    - (A) The interest rate for each loan shall not exceed the market interest rate.
    - (B) The principal and interest payments on each loan shall commence not later than 1 year after the date the loan was awarded, and each loan shall be fully amortized not later than 10 years after the date of the loan.
    - (C) The Loan Fund shall be credited with all payments of principal and interest on each loan awarded from the Loan Fund.
  - (2) To guarantee, or purchase insurance for, a local obligation (all of the proceeds of which finance a [project](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) eligible for assistance under this subsection) if the guarantee or purchase would improve credit market access or reduce the interest rate applicable to the obligation involved.
  - (3) As a source of revenue or security for the payment of principal and interest on revenue or general obligation bonds issued by the eligible entity if the proceeds of the sale of the bonds will be deposited into the Loan Fund.
  - (4) To earn interest on the amounts deposited into the Loan Fund.
  - (5) To make reimbursements described in [subsection (g)(4)(A)](#g-4-A).
- (g) **Administration of loan funds—**
  - (1) **Combined financial administration—** An eligible entity may (as a convenience and to avoid unnecessary administrative costs) combine, in accordance with applicable [State](/usc/42/300ii.md?p=8) law, the financial administration of a Loan Fund established under this subsection with the financial administration of any other revolving fund established by the entity if otherwise not prohibited by the law under which the Loan Fund was established.
  - (2) **Cost of administering fund—** Each eligible entity may annually use not to exceed 4 percent of the funds provided to the entity under a grant under this section to pay the reasonable costs of the administration of the [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) under this section, including the recovery of reasonable costs expended to establish a Loan Fund which are incurred after February 17, 2009.
  - (3) **Guidance and regulations—** The [National Coordinator](/usc/42/300jj.md?p=11) shall publish guidance and promulgate [regulations](/usc/42/201.md?p=d) as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this section, including—
    - (A) provisions to ensure that each eligible entity commits and expends funds allotted to the entity under this section as efficiently as possible in accordance with this subchapter and applicable [State](/usc/42/300ii.md?p=8) laws; and
    - (B) guidance to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse.
  - (4) **Private sector contributions—**
    - (A) **In general—** A Loan Fund established under this section may accept contributions from private sector entities, except that such entities may not specify the recipient or recipients of any loan issued under this subsection. An eligible entity may agree to reimburse a private sector entity for any contribution made under this subparagraph, except that the amount of such reimbursement may not be greater than the principal amount of the contribution made.
    - (B) **Availability of information—** An eligible entity shall make publicly available the identity of, and amount contributed by, any private sector entity under [subparagraph (A)](#g-4-A) and may issue letters of commendation or make other awards (that have no financial value) to any such entity.
- (h) **Matching requirements—**
  - (1) **In general—** The [National Coordinator](/usc/42/300jj.md?p=11) may not make a grant under [subsection (a)](#a) to an eligible entity unless the entity agrees to make available (directly or through donations from public or private entities) non-Federal contributions in cash to the costs of carrying out the activities for which the grant is awarded in an amount equal to not less than $1 for each $5 of Federal funds provided under the grant.
  - (2) **Determination of amount of non-Federal contribution—** In determining the amount of non-Federal contributions that an eligible entity has provided pursuant to subparagraph (A),[^2] the [National Coordinator](/usc/42/300jj.md?p=11) may not include any amounts provided to the entity by the Federal Government.
- (i) **Effective date—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) may not make an award under this section prior to January 1, 2010.

## Footnotes

[^1]: So in original. The word “and” probably should appear at end of subpar. (D).
[^2]: So in original. Probably means “paragraph (1),”.

## Source credit

(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title XXX, § 3014, as added Pub. L. 111–5, div. A, title XIII, § 13301, Feb. 17, 2009, 123 Stat. 253.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

The Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act, referred to in subsec. (b), is Pub. L. 93–638, Jan. 4, 1975, 88 Stat. 2203, which is classified principally to chapter 46 (§ 5301 et seq.) of Title 25, Indians. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 5301 of Title 25 and Tables.

The Social Security Act, referred to in subsec. (b)(4)(A)(i), is act Aug. 14, 1935, ch. 531, 49 Stat. 620. Titles XVIII and XIX of the Act are classified generally to subchapters XVIII (§ 1395 et seq.) and XIX (§ 1396 et seq.), respectively, of chapter 7 of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 1305 of this title and Tables.