42 U.S.C. § 17936
Verified against govinfo.gov as of June 20, 2026View official text on govinfo.gov ↗
- (a)
- (1)A communication by a covered entity or business associate that is about a product or service and that encourages recipients of the communication to purchase or use the product or service shall not be considered a health care operation for purposes of subpart E of part 164 of title 45, Code of Federal Regulations, unless the communication is made as described in subparagraph (i), (ii), or (iii) of paragraph (1) of the definition of marketing in section 164.501 of such title.
- (2)A communication by a covered entity or business associate that is described in subparagraph (i), (ii), or (iii) of paragraph (1) of the definition of marketing in section 164.501 of title 45, Code of Federal Regulations, shall not be considered a health care operation for purposes of subpart E of part 164 of title 45, Code of Federal Regulations if the covered entity receives or has received direct or indirect payment in exchange for making such communication, except where—
- (A)
- (B)each of the following conditions apply—
- (i)the communication is made by the covered entity; and
- (ii)the covered entity making such communication obtains from the recipient of the communication, in accordance with section 164.508 of title 45, Code of Federal Regulations, a valid authorization (as described in paragraph (b) of such section) with respect to such communication; or
- (C)each of the following conditions apply—
- (3)For purposes of paragraph (2), the term “reasonable in amount” shall have the meaning given such term by the Secretary by regulation.
- (4)For purposes of paragraph (2), the term “direct or indirect payment” shall not include any payment for treatment (as defined in section 164.501 of title 45, Code of Federal Regulations) of an individual.
- (b)The Secretary shall by rule provide that any written fundraising communication that is a healthcare operation as defined under section 164.501 of title 45, Code of Federal Regulations, shall, in a clear and conspicuous manner, provide an opportunity for the recipient of the communications to elect not to receive any further such communication. When an individual elects not to receive any further such communication, such election shall be treated as a revocation of authorization under section 164.508 of title 45, Code of Federal Regulations.
- (c)This section shall apply to written communications occurring on or after the effective date specified under section 13423.1 See References in Text note below.