42 USC § 18114 - Access to therapies

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t42/s18114"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_prima_facie"
title: "42 USC § 18114 - Access to therapies"
title_number: 42
title_name: "THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE"
section_number: "18114"
section_name: "Access to therapies"
chapter_number: 157
chapter_name: "QUALITY, AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE FOR ALL AMERICANS"
subchapter_number: "VI"
subchapter_name: "MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS"
positive_law: false
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Pub. L. 111–148, title I, § 1554, Mar. 23, 2010, 124 Stat. 259.)"
---


# § 18114. Access to therapies

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall not promulgate any regulation that—

**(1)** creates any unreasonable barriers to the ability of individuals to obtain appropriate medical care;

**(2)** impedes timely access to health care services;

**(3)** interferes with communications regarding a full range of treatment options between the patient and the provider;

**(4)** restricts the ability of health care providers to provide full disclosure of all relevant information to patients making health care decisions;

**(5)** violates the principles of informed consent and the ethical standards of health care professionals; or

**(6)** limits the availability of health care treatment for the full duration of a patient’s medical needs.

---

**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 111–148, title I, § 1554, Mar. 23, 2010, 124 Stat. 259.)

## Editorial Notes

### References in Text

This Act, referred to in text, is , , , known as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under  and Tables.