Transition to Fingerprint-Based Background Studies Pushed Out for MDH-Licensed Providers

Posted on December 30, 2021 by Jonathan Lips

Providers licensed by the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), including home care, assisted living facilities, and nursing homes, will not transition back to fingerprint-based background studies until Feb. 2, 2022. Until the transition occurs, these providers will continue to submit emergency studies, as we have been doing throughout the pandemic.

The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) had planned to transition MDH-licensed providers on Jan. 5 but has again delayed the transition considering current COVID challenges. The delay will allow the new fingerprinting vendor to expand service locations across the state. A list of fingerprinting locations and go-live dates is posted here, with the most recent update being Dec. 10.

As we reported earlier, the state has also changed the plan for the resubmission of emergency studies. Individuals who received emergency studies will also need to have a fully compliant study by July 2, 2022, to continue working. Initially, DHS planned to begin all resubmissions on Dec. 1, but the new plan is to stagger this process by provider type. The target dates are February-March for DHS-licensed providers and April-May for MDH-licensed providers.

We will continue to follow the transition process and share any updates with members as we receive them.