DHS Temporarily Waives Supervision Requirements for Background Study Subjects

Posted on May 10, 2022 by LeadingAge

The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) is temporarily waiving mandatory direct contact supervision requirements for new hires while their fingerprint-based background studies are being processed. The waiver remains in effect until June 30.

According to a May 9 DHS Bulletin, entities may allow a new hire to work without direct contact supervision during the period immediately after the entity submits a study request for a person and until the background study is completed or DHS sends a notice stating more time is needed to complete the study.

The bulletin further explains that 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 new hires who do not have a clearance and follow instructions given in the notice from DHS, which indicates more time is needed to complete the study.

Some providers are ineligible for the waiver – childcare settings, children's residential facilities, corporate child foster care, foster residence settings, specialized transportation, housing support, and personal care provider organizations. However, these exclusions should not affect LeadingAge Minnesota members.

DHS also retains the authority to order supervision when required based on case-by-case decisions.

Hopefully, this change will provide some much-needed flexibility for providers seeking to onboard new employees and set them to work serving residents and clients.