Recovery by United States

In any case in which the United States is authorized or required by law to furnish or pay for hospital, medical, surgical, or dental care and treatment (including prostheses and medical appliances) to a person who is injured or suffers a disease, after the effective date of this Act, under circumstances creating a tort liability upon some third person (other than or in addition to the United States and except employers of seamen treated under the provisions of section 249 of this title ) to pay damages therefor, the United States shall have a right to recover (independent of the rights of the injured or diseased person) from said third person, or that person’s insurer, the reasonable value of the care and treatment so furnished, to be furnished, paid for, or to be paid for and shall, as to this right be subrogated to any right or claim that the injured or diseased person, his guardian, personal representative, estate, dependents, or survivors has against such third person to the extent of the reasonable value of the care and treatment so furnished, to be furnished, paid for, or to be paid for. The head of the department or agency of the United States furnishing such care or treatment may also require the injured or diseased person, his guardian, personal representative, estate, dependents, or survivors, as appropriate, to assign his claim or cause of action against the third person to the extent of that right or claim.

( Pub. L. 87–693, § 1 , Sept. 25, 1962 , 76 Stat. 593 ; Pub. L. 102–54, § 13(q)(8) , June 13, 1991 , 105 Stat. 281 ; Pub. L. 104–201, div. A, title X, § 1075(a) , (b), Sept. 23, 1996 , 110 Stat. 2661 , 2663; Pub. L. 109–241, title IX, § 902(m) , July 11, 2006 , 120 Stat. 568 .)