DHS Confirms Extension of Background Check Resubmission Deadline, Other Flexibilities

Posted on June 16, 2022 by LeadingAge

The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) website now confirms the extension of the July 2 deadline by which employees with emergency background studies must clear fingerprint-based studies until the end of the year. Individuals who received emergency studies must have a fully compliant study by Dec. 31 to continue working after that date. 

All new employees must still have a fingerprint-based study as part of the hiring process. To provide additional flexibility, DHS has also communicated to NETStudy users that individuals with background study applications dated May 17 through June 30 will have 45 days to complete the fingerprint and photo requirement. Note, however, that the deadline for study subjects to complete the consent and disclosure process remains at 14 days. If it is not completed, the study subject's application will close.

In addition, DHS is extending the temporary direct contact supervision waiver for certain newly affiliated individuals while their background studies are being processed. The waiver was scheduled to expire on June 30 and is now extended through Dec. 31. The temporary waiver will assist providers in continuing to quickly respond to worker shortages and address critical workforce needs. NETStudy 2.0 may show "yes" under the supervision required status column for individuals eligible for the supervision waiver. Entities may disregard this status for newly affiliated individuals who do not have a clearance and follow instructions given in the DHS notice, indicating more time is needed to complete the study.

For adult day services programs and other provider types that pay a per-transaction background study fee, credits for emergency background studies fees are available through NETStudy 2.0 through June 30. To be eligible for the credit, the entity must have paid a per-transaction fee in NETStudy 2.0 for emergency background studies beginning April 6, 2020. A guide for utilizing provider credits, "Emergency Background Study Credit Overview and Instructions," is available in the Help section of NETStudy 2.0.