One of the principal Acts of Congress providing legislative authority for Federal health activities. Originally enacted July 1, 1944 (and sometimes referred to as the Act of July 1), the PHS Act was, when enacted, a complete codification of all the accumulated Federal public health laws. Since that time many of the Acts written in the health area, particularly by the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, have actually been amendments to the PHS Act; revising, extending or adding new authority to it (such as the HMO Act of 1973, which added a new title XIII, and the Health Revenue Sharing and Health Services Amendments of 1975, which revised many existing sections of the Act). A compilation of the PHS Act, as amended, and related Acts is published for public use by the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce. Generally, the Act contains authority for public health programs, biomedical research, health manpower training, family planning, emergency medical services systems, IIMOs, regulation of drinking water supplies, and health planning and resources development.
Among other things, the Act provides grants for community health services and the development of community health centers. The Act established the National Health Service Corps and pro¬ vided for a Loan Repayment Program and scholarship opportunities. The Act provides loans and grants for people who provide home health care services in medically underserved areas and grants to permit people to provide medical services for the homeless. The Act is codified at 42 U.S.C. §§ 254-257. The Act delegates authority to enforce the Act to the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services.
One of the principal laws giving the authority for federal health activities. First enacted July 1, 1944, it provided a complete codification of all the federal public health laws. Many of the health laws since 1944 are amendments to the Public Health Service Act revising, extending, or giving new authority to the act.