---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 300jj–51"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "300jj–51"
heading: "Health information technology enrollment standards and protocols"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/300jj-51"
units:
  - "Chapter 6A — Public Health Service"
  - "Subchapter XXVIII — Health Information Technology and Quality"
  - "Part C — Other Provisions"
---

# §300jj–51. Health information technology enrollment standards and protocols

- (a) **In general—**
  - (1) **Standards and protocols—** Not later than 180 days after March 23, 2010,[^1] the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c), in consultation with the [HIT Advisory Committee](/usc/42/300jj.md?p=7), shall develop interoperable and secure standards and protocols that facilitate enrollment of individuals in Federal and [State](/usc/42/300ii.md?p=8) health and human [services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4), as determined by the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c).
  - (2) **Methods—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) shall facilitate enrollment in such [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) through methods determined appropriate by the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c), which shall include providing individuals and third parties authorized by such individuals and their designees notification of eligibility and verification of eligibility required under such [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4).
- (b) **Content—** The standards and protocols for electronic enrollment in the Federal and [State](/usc/42/300ii.md?p=8) [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) described in [subsection (a)](#a) shall allow for the following:
  - (1) Electronic matching against existing Federal and [State](/usc/42/300ii.md?p=8) data, including vital records, employment history, enrollment systems, tax records, and other data determined appropriate by the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) to serve as evidence of eligibility and in lieu of paper-based documentation.
  - (2) Simplification and submission of electronic documentation, digitization of documents, and systems verification of eligibility.
  - (3) Reuse of stored eligibility information (including documentation) to assist with retention of eligible individuals.
  - (4) Capability for individuals to apply, recertify and manage their eligibility information online, including at home, at points of [service](/usc/42/201.md?p=a), and other community-based locations.
  - (5) Ability to expand the enrollment system to integrate new [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4), rules, and functionalities, to operate at increased volume, and to apply streamlined verification and eligibility processes to other Federal and [State](/usc/42/300ii.md?p=8) [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4), as appropriate.
  - (6) Notification of eligibility, recertification, and other needed communication regarding eligibility, which may include communication via email and cellular phones.
  - (7) Other functionalities necessary to provide eligibles with streamlined enrollment process.
- (c) **Approval and notification—** With respect to any standard or protocol developed under [subsection (a)](#a) that has been approved by the [HIT Advisory Committee](/usc/42/300jj.md?p=7), the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c)—
  - (1) shall notify [States](/usc/42/300ii.md?p=8) of such standards or protocols; and
  - (2) may require, as a condition of receiving Federal funds for the [health information technology](/usc/42/300jj.md?p=5) investments, that [States](/usc/42/300ii.md?p=8) or other entities incorporate such standards and protocols into such investments.
- (d) **Grants for implementation of appropriate enrollment HIT—**
  - (1) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) shall award grant[^2] to eligible entities to develop new, and adapt existing, technology systems to implement the HIT enrollment standards and protocols developed under [subsection (a)](#a) (referred to in this subsection as “appropriate HIT technology”).
  - (2) **Eligible entities—** To be eligible for a grant under this subsection, an entity shall—
    - (A) be a [State](/usc/42/300ii.md?p=8), political subdivision of a [State](/usc/42/300ii.md?p=8), or a local governmental entity; and
    - (B) submit to the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) an application at such time, in such manner, and containing—
      - (i) a plan to adopt and implement appropriate enrollment technology that includes—
        - (I) proposed reduction in maintenance costs of technology systems;
        - (II) elimination or updating of legacy systems; and
        - (III) demonstrated collaboration with other entities that may receive a grant under this section that are located in the same [State](/usc/42/300ii.md?p=8), political subdivision, or locality;
      - (ii) an assurance that the entity will share such appropriate enrollment technology in accordance with paragraph (4); and
      - (iii) such other information as the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) may require.
  - (3) **Sharing—**
    - (A) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) shall ensure that appropriate enrollment HIT adopted under grants under this subsection is made available to other qualified [State](/usc/42/300ii.md?p=8), qualified political subdivisions of a [State](/usc/42/300ii.md?p=8), or other appropriate qualified entities (as described in [subparagraph (B)](#d-3-B)) at no cost.
    - (B) **Qualified entities—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) shall determine what entities are qualified to receive enrollment HIT under [subparagraph (A)](#d-3-A), taking into consideration the recommendations of the [HIT Advisory Committee](/usc/42/300jj.md?p=7).

## Footnotes

[^1]: See References in Text note below.
[^2]: So in original. Probably should be “grants”.

## Source credit

(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title XXX, § 3021, as added Pub. L. 111–148, title I, § 1561, Mar. 23, 2010, 124 Stat. 262; amended Pub. L. 114–255, div. A, title IV, § 4003(e)(2)(A)(ii), Dec. 13, 2016, 130 Stat. 1174.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

March 23, 2010, referred to in subsec. (a)(1), was in the original “the date of enactment of this title”, which was translated as meaning the date of enactment of Pub. L. 111–148, which enacted this part, to reflect the probable intent of Congress.

### Amendments

2016—Subsecs. (a)(1), (c), (d)(3)(B). Pub. L. 114–255 substituted “HIT Advisory Committee” for “HIT Policy Committee and the HIT Standards Committee”.