---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 300u–12"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "300u–12"
heading: "Education and outreach campaign regarding preventive benefits"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/300u-12"
units:
  - "Chapter 6A — Public Health Service"
  - "Subchapter XV — Health Information and Health Promotion"
---

# §300u–12. Education and outreach campaign regarding preventive benefits

- (a) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) of Health and Human [Services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) (referred to in this section as the “[Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c)”) shall provide for the planning and implementation of a national public–private partnership for a prevention and health promotion outreach and education campaign to raise public awareness of health improvement across the life span. Such campaign shall include the dissemination of information that—
  - (1) describes the importance of utilizing preventive [services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) to promote wellness, reduce health disparities, and mitigate chronic disease;
  - (2) promotes the use of preventive [services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) recommended by the United States Preventive [Services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) [Task Force](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=3) and the Community Preventive [Services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) [Task Force](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=3);
  - (3) encourages healthy behaviors linked to the prevention of chronic diseases;
  - (4) explains the preventive [services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) covered under health plans offered through an [Exchange](/usc/42/300gg–91.md?p=d-21);
  - (5) describes additional preventive care supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Health Resources and [Services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) Administration, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health [Services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) Administration, the [Advisory Committee](/usc/42/17061.md?p=2) on Immunization [Practices](/usc/42/17061.md?p=19), and other appropriate [agencies](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1); and
  - (6) includes general health promotion information.
- (b) **Consultation—** In coordinating the campaign under [subsection (a)](#a), the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) shall consult with the Institute of Medicine to provide ongoing advice on evidence-based scientific information for policy, [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) development, and evaluation.
- (c) **Media campaign—**
  - (1) **In general—** Not later than 1 year after March 23, 2010, the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c), acting through the [Director](/usc/42/11851.md?p=5) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, shall establish and implement a national science-based media campaign on health promotion and disease prevention.
  - (2) **Requirement of campaign—** The campaign implemented under [paragraph (1)](#c-1)—
    - (A) shall be designed to address proper nutrition, regular exercise, smoking cessation, obesity reduction, the 5 leading disease killers in the United States, and secondary prevention through disease screening promotion;
    - (B) shall be carried out through competitively bid contracts awarded to entities providing for the professional production and design of such campaign;
    - (C) may include the use of television, radio, Internet, and other commercial marketing venues and may be targeted to specific age groups based on peer-reviewed social research;
    - (D) shall not be duplicative of any other Federal efforts relating to health promotion and disease prevention; and
    - (E) may include the use of humor and nationally recognized positive role models.
  - (3) **Evaluation—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) shall ensure that the campaign implemented under [paragraph (1)](#c-1) is subject to an independent evaluation every 2 years and shall report every 2 years to Congress on the effectiveness of such campaigns towards meeting science-based metrics.
- (d) **Website—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c), in consultation with private-sector experts, shall maintain or enter into a contract to maintain an Internet website to provide science-based information on guidelines for nutrition, regular exercise, obesity reduction, smoking cessation, and specific chronic disease prevention. Such website shall be designed to provide information to [health care providers](/usc/42/300aa–33.md?p=1) and consumers.
- (e) **Dissemination of information through providers—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c), acting through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, shall develop and implement a plan for the dissemination of health promotion and disease prevention information consistent with national priorities, to [health care providers](/usc/42/300aa–33.md?p=1) who participate in Federal [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4), including [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) administered by the Indian Health [Service](/usc/42/201.md?p=a), the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Defense, and the Health Resources and [Services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) Administration, and Medicare and Medicaid.
- (f) **Personalized prevention plans—**
  - (1) **Contract—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c), acting through the [Director](/usc/42/11851.md?p=5) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, shall enter into a contract with a qualified entity for the development and operation of a Federal Internet website personalized prevention plan tool.
  - (2) **Use—** The website developed under [paragraph (1)](#f-1) shall be designed to be used as a source of the most up-to-date scientific evidence relating to disease prevention for use by individuals. Such website shall contain a component that enables an individual to determine their disease risk (based on personal health and family history, BMI, and other relevant information) relating to the 5 leading diseases in the United States, and obtain personalized suggestions for preventing such diseases.
- (g) **Internet portal—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) shall establish an Internet portal for accessing risk-assessment tools developed and maintained by private and academic entities.
- (h) **Priority funding—** Funding for the activities authorized under this section shall take priority over funding provided through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for grants to [States](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) and other entities for similar purposes and goals as provided for in this section. Not to exceed $500,000,000 shall be expended on the campaigns and activities required under this section.
- (i) **Public awareness of preventive and obesity-related services—**
  - (1) **Information to States—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) of Health and Human [Services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) shall provide guidance and relevant information to [States](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) and [health care providers](/usc/42/300aa–33.md?p=1) regarding preventive and obesity-related [services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) that are available to Medicaid enrollees, including obesity screening and counseling for children and adults.
  - (2) **Information to enrollees—** Each [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) shall design a public awareness campaign to educate Medicaid enrollees regarding availability and coverage of such [services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a), with the goal of reducing incidences of obesity.
  - (3) **Report—** Not later than January 1, 2011, and every 3 years thereafter through January 1, 2017, the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) of Health and Human [Services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) shall report to Congress on the status and effectiveness of efforts under paragraphs [(1)](#i-1) and [(2)](#i-2), including summaries of the [States](/usc/42/201.md?p=f)’ efforts to increase awareness of coverage of obesity-related [services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a).
- (j) **Authorization of appropriations—** There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 111–148, title IV, § 4004, title X, § 10401(c), Mar. 23, 2010, 124 Stat. 544, 975.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Codification

Section was enacted as part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, and not as part of the Public Health Service Act which comprises this chapter.

### Amendments

2010—Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 111–148, § 10401(c), substituted “an Exchange” for “a Gateway”.