The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs announced April 25, 2012 the immediate rescission of Enforcement Directive 293 regarding coverage of healthcare providers.

As we mentioned in a previous AA Alert, the OFCCP issued Directive 293 to explain its rationale for jurisdictional coverage of healthcare providers based on an affiliation with federal health care programs. One of the bases for possible coverage involved participation in a network of TRICARE providers. However, on December 31, 2011, President Obama signed the National Defense Authorization Act, which provides that a TRICARE agreement is not considered a federal contract.

As a result of the NDAA, the OFCCP rescinded its prior Directive and has "put on hold" all compliance evaluations where the only basis for jurisdiction is participation in TRICARE. The Agency will notify those entities by mail of their status. For those entities that participate in TRICARE but also hold contracts with other agencies, such as the Department of Justice, the Veterans Administration, or the Department of Health and Human Services, the compliance reviews will go forward. In those cases, the OFCCP will also notify the organizations by letter of their status, and the organizations will have 30 days to submit their affirmative action plans and requested documentation. Those letters are expected to be sent by May 4, 2012.