The FCC clarified the scope of the Rural Health Care (RHC) Program’s evergreen contractcompetitive bidding exemption in a Public Notice (DA 15-809) released July 10, 2015.

The December 2012 Healthcare Connect Fund (HCF) Order (FCC 12-150) states that:

If an HCP has a contract designated as evergreen under the Telecommunications Program or Internet Access Program before January 1, 2014, it may choose to seek support for the services provided under the evergreen contract from the Healthcare Connect Fund Program without undergoing additional competitive bidding, so long as the services are eligible for support under the Healthcare Connect Fund Program and the HCP complies with all other Healthcare Connect Fund Program rules and procedures.

The FCC clarifies that if a contract is deemed evergreen by USAC under the Telecommunications Program even after January 1, 2014, that designation also applies under the HCF Program, and vice versa.

To learn more, see Public Notice DA 15-809.