5 C.F.R. PART 339—MEDICAL QUALIFICATION DETERMINATIONS
Title 5 - Administrative Personnel
Title 5: Administrative Personnel
PART 339—MEDICAL QUALIFICATION DETERMINATIONS
Section Contents
§ 339.101 Coverage.
§ 339.102 Purpose and effect.
§ 339.103 Compliance with EEOC regulations.
§ 339.104 Definitions.
§ 339.201 Disqualification by OPM.
§ 339.202 Medical standards.
§ 339.203 Physical requirements.
§ 339.204 Waiver of standards and requirements.
§ 339.205 Medical evaluation programs.
§ 339.206 Disqualification on the basis of medical history.
§ 339.301 Authority to require an examination.
§ 339.302 Authority to offer examinations.
§ 339.303 Examination procedures.
§ 339.304 Payment for examination.
§ 339.305 Records and reports.
§ 339.306 Processing medical eligibility determinations on certificates of eligibles.
Authority: 5 U.S.C. 3301, 3302, 5112; E.O. 9830, February 24, 1947.
Source: 54 FR 9763, Mar. 8, 1989, unless otherwise noted.
Subpart A—General
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§ 339.101 Coverage.
top
This part applies to all applicants for and employees in competitive service positions; and to excepted service employees when medical issues arise in connection with an OPM regulation which governs a particular personnel decision, for example, removal of a preference eligible employee in the excepted service under part 752.
§ 339.102 Purpose and effect.
top(a) This part defines the circumstances under which medical documentation may be acquired and examinations and evaluations conducted to determine the nature of a medical condition which may affect safe and efficient performance.
(b) Personnel decisions based wholly or in part on the review of medical documentation and the results of medical examinations and evaluations shall be made in accordance with appropriate parts of this title.
(c) Failure to meet a properly established medical standard or physical requirement under this part means that the individual is not qualified for the position unless a waiver or reasonable accommodation is indicated, as described in §§339.103 and 339.204. An employee's refusal to be examined in accordance with a proper agency order authorized under this part is grounds for appropriate disciplinary or adverse action.
[54 FR 9763, Mar. 8, 1989, as amended at 60 FR 3061, Jan. 13, 1995]
§ 339.103 Compliance with EEOC regulations.
topActions under this part must be consistent with 29 CFR 1613. 701 et seq. Particularly relevant to medical qualification determinations are §1613.704 (requiring reasonable accommodation of individuals with handicaps); §1613.705 (prohibiting use of employment criteria that screen out individuals with handicaps unless shown to be related to the job in question) and §1614.706 (prohibiting pre-employment inquiries related to handicap and pre-employment medical examinations, except under specified circumstances). In addition, use of the term “qualified” in these regulations shall be interpreted consistently with §1613.702(f), which provides that a “qualified handicapped person” is a handicapped person “who, with or without reasonable accommodation, can perform the essential functions of the position in question without endangering the health and safety of the individual or others.”
§ 339.104 Definitions.
topFor purposes of this part—
Accommodation means reasonable accommodation as described in 29 CFR 1613.704.
Arduous of hazardous positions means positions that are dangerous or physically demanding to such a degree that an incumbent's medical condition is necessarily an important consideration in determining ability to perform safely and efficiently.
Medical condition means health impairment which results from injury or disease, including psychiatric disease.
Medical documentation or documentation of a medical condition means a statement from a licensed physician or other appropriate practitioner which provides information the agency considers necessary to enable it to make an employment decision. To be acceptable, the diagnosis or clinical impression must be justified according to established diagnostic criteria and the conclusions and recommendations must not be inconsistent with generally accepted professional standards. The determination that the diagnosis meets these criteria is made by or in coordination with a physician or, if appropriate, a practitioner of the same discipline as the one who issued the statement. An acceptable diagnosis must include the following information, or parts identified by the agency as necessary and relevant:
(a) The history of the medical conditions, including references to findings from previous examinations, treatment, and responses to treatment;
(b) Clinical findings from the most recent medical evaluation, including any of the following which have been obtained: Findings of physical examination; results of laboratory tests; X-rays; EKG's and other special evaluations or diagnostic procedures; and, in the case of psychiatric evaluation of psychological assessment, the findings of a mental status examination and the results of psychological tests, if appropriate;
(c) Diagnosis, including the current clinical status;
(d) Prognosis, including plans for future treatment and an estimate of the expected date of full or partial recovery;
(e) An explanation of the impact of the medical condition on overall health and activities, including the basis for any conclusion that restrictions or accommodations are or are not warranted, and where they are warranted, an explanation of their therapeutic of risk avoiding value;
(f) An explanation of the medical basis for any conclusion which indicates the likelihood that the individual is or is not expected to suffer sudden or subtle incapacitation by carrying out, with or without accommodation, the tasks or duties of a specific position;
(g) Narrative explanation of the medical basis for any conclusion that the medical condition has or has not become static or well stabilized and the likelihood that the individual may experience sudden or subtle incapacitation as a result of the medical condition. In this context, “static or well-stabilized medical condition” means a medical condition which is not likely to change as a consequence of the natural progression of the condition, specifically as a result of the normal aging process, or in response to the work environment or the work itself. “Subtle incapacitation” means gradual, initially imperceptible impairment of physical or mental function whether reversible or not which is likely to result in performance or conduct deficiencies. “Sudden incapacitation” means abrupt onset of loss of control of physical or mental function.
Medical evaluation program means a program of recurring medical examinations or tests established by written agency policy or directive, to safeguard the health of employees whose work may subject them or others to significant health or safety risks due to occupational or environmental exposure or demands.
Medical standard is a written description of the medical requirements for a particular occupation based on a determination that a certian level of fitness of health status is required for successful performance.
Physical requirement is a written description of job-related physical abilities which are normally considered essential for successful performance in a specific position.
Physician means a licensed Doctor of Medicine or Doctor of Osteopathy, or a physician who is serving on active duty in the uniformed services and is designated by the uniformed service to conduct examinations under this part.
Practitioner means a person providing health services who is not a medical doctor, but who is certified by a national organization and licensed by a State to provide the service in question.
Subpart B—Physical and Medical Qualifications
top§ 339.201 Disqualification by OPM.
topSubject to subpart C of part 731 of this chapter, OPM may deny an applicant examination, deny an eligible appointment, and instruct an agency to remove an appointee by reason of physical or mental unfitness for the position for which he or she has applied, or to which he or she has been appointed. An OPM decision under this section is separate and distinct from a determination of disability under §831.502, 844.103, 844.202, or subpart L of part 831 of this title, and does not necessarily entitle the employee to disability retirement under sections 8337 or 8451 of title 5, United States Code.
§ 339.202 Medical standards.
topOPM may establish or approve medical standards for a Governmentwide occupation (i.e., an occupation common to more than one agency). An agency may establish medical standards for positions that predominate in that agency (i.e., where the agency has 50 percent or more of the positions in a particular occupation). Such standards must be justified on the basis that the duties of the position are arduous or hazardous, or require a certain level of health status or fitness because the nature of the positions involve a high degree of responsibility toward the public or sensitive national security concerns. The rationale for establishing the standard must be documented. Standards established by OPM or an agency must be:
(a) Established by written directive and uniformly applied,
(b) Directly related to the actual requirements of the position.
[54 FR 9763, Mar. 8, 1989, as amended at 66 FR 66710, Dec. 27, 2001]
§ 339.203 Physical requirements.
topAgencies are authorized to establish physical requirements for individual positions without OPM approval when such requirements are considered essential for successful job performance. The requirements must be clearly supported by the actual duties of the position and documented in the position description.
§ 339.204 Waiver of standards and requirements.
topAgencies must waive a medical standard or physical requirement established under this part when there is sufficient evidence that an applicant or employee, with or without reasonable accommodation, can perform the essential duties of the position without endangering the health and safety of the individual or others.
§ 339.205 Medical evaluation programs.
topAgencies may establish periodic examination or immunization programs by written policies or directives to safeguard the health of employees whose work may subject them or others to significant health or safety risks due to occupational or environmental exposure or demands. The need for a medical evaluation program must be clearly supported by the nature of the work. The specific positions covered must be identified and the applicants or incumbents notified in writing of the reasons for including the positions in the program.
§ 339.206 Disqualification on the basis of medical history.
topA candidate may not be disqualified for any position solely on the basis of medical history. For positions with medical standards or physical requirements, or positions subject to medical evaluation programs, a history of a particular medical problem may result in medical disqualification only if the condition at issue is itself disqualifying, recurrence cannot medically be ruled out, and the duties of the position are such that a recurrence would pose a reasonable probability of substantial harm.
Subpart C—Medical Examinations
top§ 339.301 Authority to require an examination.
top(a) A routine preappointment examination is appropriate only for a position which has specific medical standards, physical requirements, or is covered by a medical evaluation program established under these regulations.
(b) Subject to §339.103 of this part, an agency may require an individual who has applied for or occupies a position which has medical standards or physical requirements or which is part of an established medical evaluation program, to report for a medical examination:
(1) Prior to appointment or selection (including reemployment on the basis of full or partial recovery from a medical condition);
(2) On a regularly recurring, periodic basis after appointment; or
(3) Whenever there is a direct question about an employee's continued capacity to meet the physical or medical requirements of a position.
(c) An agency may require an employee who has applied for or is receiving continuation of pay or compensation as a result of an on-the-job injury or disease to report for an examination to determine medical limitations that may affect placement decisions.
(d) An agency may require an employee who is released from his or her competitive level in a reduction in force to undergo a relevant medical evaluation if the position to which the employee has reassignment rights has medical standards or specific physical requirements which are different from those required in the employee's current position.
(e)(1) An agency may order a psychiatric examination (including a psychological assessment) only when:
(i) The result of a current general medical examination which the agency has the authority to order under this section indicates no physical explanation for behavior or actions which may affect the safe and efficient performance of the individual or others, or
(ii) A phychiatric examination is specifically called for in a position having medical standards or subject to a medical evaluation program established under this part.
(2) A psychiatric examination or psychological assessment authorized under (i) or (ii) above must be conducted in accordance with accepted professional standards, by a licensed practitioner or physician authorized to conduct such examinations, and may only be used to make legitimate inquiry into a person's mental fitness to successfully perform the duties of his or her position without undue hazard to the individual or others.
§ 339.302 Authority to offer examinations.
topAn agency may, at its option, offer a medical examination (including a psychiatric evaluation) in any situation where the agency needs additional medical documentation to make an informed management decision. This may include situations where an individual requests for medical reasons a change in duty status, assignment, working conditions, or any other benefit or special treatment (including reasonable accommodation or reemployment on the basis of full or partial recovery from a medical condition) or where the individual has a performance or conduct problem which may require agency action. Reasons for offering an examination must be documented. An offer of an examination shall be carried out and used in accordance with 29 CFR 1613.706.
§ 339.303 Examination procedures.
top(a) When an agency orders or offers a medical examination under this subpart, it must inform the applicant or employee in writing of its reasons for doing so and the consequences of failure to cooperate. (A single notification is sufficient to cover a series of regularly recurring or periodic examinations ordered under this subpart.)
(b) The agency designates the examining physician or other appropriate practitioner, but must offer the individual an opportunity to submit medical documentation from his or her personal physician or practitioner. The agency must review and consider all such documentation supplied by the individual's personal physician or practitioner.
§ 339.304 Payment for examination.
topAgencies shall pay for all examinations ordered or offered under this subpart, whether conducted by the agency's physician or the applicant's or employee's physician. Applicants and employees must pay for a medical examination conducted by a private physician (or practitioner) where the purpose of the examination is to secure a benefit sought by the applicant or employee.
§ 339.305 Records and reports.
top(a) Agencies will receive and maintain all medical documentation and records of examinations obtained under this part in accordance with instructions provided by OPM, under provisions of 5 CFR part 293, subpart E.
(b) The report of an examination conducted under this subpart must be made available to the applicant or employee under the provisions of part 297 of this chapter.
(c) Agencies must forward to the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP), Department of Labor, a copy of all medical documentation and reports of examinations of individuals who are receiving or have applied for injury compensation benefits including continuation of pay. The agency must also report to the OWCP the failure of such individuals to report for examinations that the agency orders under this subpart. When the individual has applied for disability retirement, this information must be forwarded to OPM.
§ 339.306 Processing medical eligibility determinations on certificates of eligibles.
top(a) In accordance with the provisions of this part, agencies are authorized to medically disqualify a nonpreference eligible. A nonpreference eligible so disqualified has a right to a higher level review of the determination within the agency.
(b) OPM must approve the sufficiency of the agency's reasons to:
(1) Medically disqualify or pass over a preference eligible on a certificate in place of a nonpreference eligible,
(2) Medically disqualify or pass over a 30 percent or more compensably disabled veteran for a position in the U.S. Postal Service in favor of a nonpreference eligible,
(3) Medically disqualify a 30 percent or more compensably disabled veteran for assignment to another position in a reduction in force, or
(4) Medically disqualify a 30 percent or more disabled veteran for noncompetitive appointment.
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