U.S. Department of Labor Seal

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs

 

A Directive (DIR) is intended to provide guidance to OFCCP staff and/or federal contractors on enforcement and compliance policy or procedures. A DIR does not change the laws and/or regulations governing OFCCP’s programs and does not establish any legally enforceable rights or obligations. The contents of this document do not have the force and effect of law and are not meant to bind the public in any way. This document is intended only to provide clarity to the public regarding existing requirements under the law or agency policies.

Effective Date: May 1, 2023

  1. SUBJECT: Extending the Scheduling Moratorium for Veterans Affairs Health Benefits Program (VAHBP) Providers

  2. PURPOSE: To maintain access to health care for veterans by extending a moratorium on the enforcement of affirmative obligations required of VAHBP providers.1

  3. REFERENCES: This DIR includes references to the following:
    1. DIR 2014-01, TRICARE Subcontractor Enforcement Activities (May 7, 2014).
    2. DIR 2018-02, TRICARE Subcontractor Enforcement Activities (May 18, 2018).
    3. Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination Obligations of Federal Contractors and Subcontractors: TRICARE Providers, 85 FR 39834 (July 2, 2020).

  4. AFFECTED POLICY: This directive revises DIR 2021-01.

  5. BACKGROUND: The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) enforces Executive Order (E.O.) 11246, as amended; Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended (Section 503); and the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974, as amended (VEVRAA). Collectively, these laws prohibit federal contractors and subcontractors from discriminating in employment and require them to take affirmative action to ensure equal opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, and status as a protected veteran. Contractors are also prohibited from discriminating against applicants and employees because they inquire about, discuss, or disclose their compensation or that of others, subject to certain limitations.

    On May 7, 2014, OFCCP issued DIR 2014-01, establishing a moratorium to suspend enforcement of the affirmative obligations required of all TRICARE subcontractors for a period of five years.2 OFCCP subsequently extended the moratorium until May 7, 2021, under DIR 2018-02, which also amended the moratorium to include VAHBP providers. The extension was intended to provide time to sufficiently address additional stakeholder feedback and prevent protected veterans and their families from encountering further difficulty accessing healthcare.

    OFCCP addressed the stakeholder feedback through rulemaking. In a final rule that took effect on August 31, 2020, Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination Obligations of Federal Contractors and Subcontractors: TRICARE Providers, OFCCP reconsidered its legal position and determined that the agency lacks authority to regulate health care providers solely because they participate in TRICARE. In the alternative, OFCCP established a national interest exemption that improves access to healthcare for active and retired service members and their families by removing OFCCP’s regulatory burdens. Though the final rule did not release VAHBP providers from complying with OFCCP’s laws, OFCCP committed to providing further sub regulatory guidance on VAHBP providers.

    More information regarding VAHBP providers can be found in OFCCP’s Frequently Asked Questions Pages:
    https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ofccp/faqs/jurisdiction
    https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ofccp/faqs/tricare

  6. POLICY: OFCCP will exercise its prosecutorial discretion to extend the moratorium as it applies to VAHBP providers by two years, until May 7, 2025.

    The moratorium serves as an exemption to enforcement of affirmative obligations and being neutrally scheduled for a compliance evaluation, but does not relieve VAHBP providers as to enforcement of nondiscrimination obligations or being subject to discrimination complaint investigations.

 

/S/
Michele Hodge
Director
Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs

1. OFCCP uses “VAHBP providers” as an umbrella term to encompass health care providers that contract with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, including those in Veterans Affairs Community Care Networks, as well as Veterans Care Agreements created pursuant to 2018 VA MISSION Act.

2. Except for the investigation of discrimination complaints, DIR 2014-01 stopped OFCCP enforcement of all obligations under E.O. 11246, Section 503, and VEVRAA effective from the date of its issuance, including the enforcement of obligations related to affirmative action programs and recordkeeping, for TRICARE subcontractors.

 

Last updated on May 1, 2023