---
kind: "section"
citation: "51 U.S.C. § 20149"
title: "51"
title_heading: "National and Commercial Space Programs"
number: "20149"
heading: "Medical monitoring and research relating to human space flight"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/51/20149"
units:
  - "Subtitle II — General Program and Policy Provisions"
  - "Chapter 201 — National Aeronautics and Space Program"
  - "Subchapter III — General Administrative Provisions"
---

# §20149. Medical monitoring and research relating to human space flight

- (a) **In General.—** Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the [Administrator](/usc/51/10101.md?p=2) may provide for—
  - (1) the medical monitoring and diagnosis of a former United States government astronaut or a former payload specialist for conditions that the [Administrator](/usc/51/10101.md?p=2) considers potentially associated with human space flight; and
  - (2) the treatment of a former United States government astronaut or a former payload specialist for conditions that the [Administrator](/usc/51/10101.md?p=2) considers associated with human space flight, including scientific and medical tests for psychological and medical conditions.
- (b) **Requirements.—**
  - (1) **No cost sharing.—** The medical monitoring, diagnosis, or treatment described in [subsection (a)](#a) shall be provided without any deductible, copayment, or other cost sharing obligation.
  - (2) **Access to local services.—** The medical monitoring, diagnosis, and treatment described in [subsection (a)](#a) may be provided by a local health care provider if it is unadvisable due to the health of the applicable former United States government astronaut or former payload specialist for that former United States government astronaut or former payload specialist to travel to the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, as determined by the [Administrator](/usc/51/10101.md?p=2).
  - (3) **Secondary payment.—** Payment or reimbursement for the medical monitoring, diagnosis, or treatment described in [subsection (a)](#a) shall be secondary to any obligation of the United States Government or any third party under any other provision of law or contractual agreement to pay for or provide such medical monitoring, diagnosis, or treatment. Any costs for items and services that may be provided by the [Administrator](/usc/51/10101.md?p=2) for medical monitoring, diagnosis, or treatment under [subsection (a)](#a) that are not paid for or provided under such other provision of law or contractual agreement, due to the application of deductibles, copayments, coinsurance, other cost sharing, or otherwise, are reimbursable by the [Administrator](/usc/51/10101.md?p=2) on behalf of the former United States government astronaut or former payload specialist involved to the extent such items or services are authorized to be provided by the [Administrator](/usc/51/10101.md?p=2) for such medical monitoring, diagnosis, or treatment under [subsection (a)](#a).
  - (4) **Conditional payment.—** The [Administrator](/usc/51/10101.md?p=2) may provide for conditional payments for or provide medical monitoring, diagnosis, or treatment described in [subsection (a)](#a) that is obligated to be paid for or provided by the United States or any third party under any other provision of law or contractual agreement to pay for or provide such medical monitoring, diagnosis, or treatment if—
    - (A) payment for (or the provision of) such medical monitoring, diagnosis, or treatment services has not been made (or provided) or cannot reasonably be expected to be made (or provided) promptly by the United States or such third party, respectively; and
    - (B) such payment (or such provision of services) by the [Administrator](/usc/51/10101.md?p=2) is conditioned on reimbursement by the United States or such third party, respectively, for such medical monitoring, diagnosis, or treatment.
- (c) **Exclusions.—** The [Administrator](/usc/51/10101.md?p=2) may not—
  - (1) provide for medical monitoring or diagnosis of a former United States government astronaut or former payload specialist under [subsection (a)](#a) for any psychological or medical condition that is not potentially associated with human space flight;
  - (2) provide for treatment of a former United States government astronaut or former payload specialist under [subsection (a)](#a) for any psychological or medical condition that is not associated with human space flight; or
  - (3) require a former United States government astronaut or former payload specialist to participate in the medical monitoring, diagnosis, or treatment authorized under [subsection (a)](#a).
- (d) **Privacy.—** Consistent with applicable provisions of Federal law relating to privacy, the [Administrator](/usc/51/10101.md?p=2) shall protect the privacy of all medical records generated under [subsection (a)](#a) and accessible to the [Administration](/usc/51/10101.md?p=1).
- (e) **Regulations.—** The [Administrator](/usc/51/10101.md?p=2) shall promulgate such regulations as are necessary to carry out this section.
- (f) **Definition of United States Government Astronaut.—** In this section, the term “United States government astronaut” has the meaning given the term “government astronaut” in [section 50902](/usc/51/50902.md), except it does not include an individual who is an international partner astronaut.
- (g) **Data Use and Disclosure.—** The [Administrator](/usc/51/10101.md?p=2) may use or disclose data acquired in the course of medical monitoring, diagnosis, or treatment of a former United States government astronaut or a former payload specialist under [subsection (a)](#a), in accordance with [subsection (d)](#d). Former United States government astronaut or former payload specialist participation in medical monitoring, diagnosis, or treatment under [subsection (a)](#a) shall constitute consent for the [Administrator](/usc/51/10101.md?p=2) to use or disclose such data.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 115–10, title IV, § 443(a), Mar. 21, 2017, 131 Stat. 45.)

## Notes

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Annual Reports

Pub. L. 115–10, title IV, § 443(c), Mar. 21, 2017, 131 Stat. 47, provided that: In general.—Each fiscal year, not later than the date of submission of the President’s annual budget request for that fiscal year under section 1105 of title 31, United States Code, the Administrator [of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration] shall publish a report, in accordance with applicable Federal privacy laws, on the activities of the Administration [National Aeronautics and Space Administration] under section 20149 of title 51, United States Code. Contents.—Each report under paragraph (1) shall include a detailed cost accounting of the Administration’s activities under section 20149 of title 51, United States Code, and a 5-year budget estimate. Submission to congress.—The Administrator shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress [Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate] each report under paragraph (1) not later than the date of submission of the President’s annual budget request for that fiscal year under section 1105 of title 31, United States Code.”

### Inspector General Audit

Pub. L. 115–10, title IV, § 443(f), Mar. 21, 2017, 131 Stat. 47, provided that: “The Inspector General of NASA [National Aeronautics and Space Administration] shall periodically audit or review, as the Inspector General considers necessary to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse, the activities of the Administration [National Aeronautics and Space Administration] under section 20149 of title 51, United States Code.”