CMS Vaccine Mandate: Preliminary Injunction Ordered
The CMS Vaccine Mandate has had a preliminary injunction ordered. The injunction is not nationwide, but it does apply to Alaska.
“IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Defendants are preliminarily enjoined from the implementation and enforcement of 86 Fed. Reg. 61,555 (Nov. 5, 2021), the Interim Final Rule with Comment Period entitled “Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Omnibus COVID-19 Health Care Staff Vaccination,” against any and all Medicare- and Medicaid-certified providers and suppliers within the States of Alaska, Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming pending a trial on the merits of this action or until further order of this Court. Defendants shall immediately cease all implementation or enforcement of the Interim Final Rule with Comment Period as to any Medicare- and Medicaid-certified providers and suppliers within the States of Alaska, Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming.”
DHSS will provide updates as the case moves through the court process.
November 26, 2021 Update: Post-Cyberattack Background Check Application Processing
- NABCS has been approved for use, but providers/agencies must follow the instructions to get whitelisted by December 15, 2021; after that date, paper applications will no longer be accepted. To begin the whitelisting process, providers/agencies must complete a NABCS Provider Access Request Form and submit it to bcp.access.requests@alaska.gov.
- Although NABCS is available for use by whitelisted providers, paper applications received since the cyberattack are not yet viewable in NABCS; the Division of Health Care Services has temporarily increased staffing to assist in entering these paper applications into NABCS.
- Despite the tireless efforts of the HCS Background Check Team, the processing currently exceeds 15 days and will likely continue to exceed 15 days until all providers are whitelisted and input of paper applications into NABCS is complete.
BACKGROUND CHECKS - IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED TO SUBMIT APPLICATIONS AND PAYMENT THROUGH NABCS - WHITELISTING
Effective October 27, 2021, all existing providers MUST submit the NABCS Provider Access Request Form (PDF) to the email listed below to gain access to the NABCS environment. This process is called "whitelisting" which puts your facilities internet connection on a safe list. It is the division's intent to have all existing providers utilizing NABCS for application submittals and payments by December 15, 2021. Please do not wait until the deadline to submit the security form as processing times will be impacted. Technical questions related to the security form and submission? Please email/contact bcp.access.requests@alaska.gov.
Background Check Program Resumes Pre-COVID-19 Fingerprint Requirement Effective August 1, 2021
New Applications
All new background check applications submitted on/after August 1, 2021 must include a fingerprint card. Incomplete applications will be pended until all required information, including fingerprint card, is received.
Currently, because NABCS is unavailable, applications are submitted via email, mail, fax, and in person. To expedite the processing of your application, please submit it along with all required materials, including fingerprint card, via mail or in person to DHCS Background Check Unit, 4601 Business Park Blvd., Bldg. K, Anchorage AK 99503. The processing of applications is significantly delayed when the application and required documents are submitted separately. New application submission instructions will be released when NABCS access is restored.
Existing Provisional Clearances
Information for individuals who currently have a provisional clearance, but have not submitted a fingerprint card, will be released soon.
Questions? Call 907.334.4475.
History
To reduce in-person contact and reduce administrative burdens as patient loads increased due to COVID-19, the Department of Health and Social Services suspended 7 AAC 10.910(a) and 7 AAC 10.910(b)(3), permitting the Background Check Program to issue provisional clearances without fingerprinting. With the expiration of the state disaster declaration, these regulatory suspensions also expire.
Background Check Program moves offline during cyberattack investigation
On May 18, 2021, the Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) website was the target of a cyberattack. DHSS took immediate action to protect its systems and prevent further disruption, including taking background checks offline while this incident is being investigated. The Background Check Program (BCP) will rely solely upon a manual process and review of APSIN, CourtView, Prober, OIG, JOMIS, Alaska Professional Licenses, and the National Sex Offender Registry to determine whether a provisional background clearance can be issued.
Until further notice, all new applications must be submitted using an interim BCP hard copy application. If you submitted an application on or prior to May 17th, and have NOT received an email confirmation of a provisional clearance, you must submit a new BCP hard copy application and proof of payment. If you HAVE received email confirmation of a provisional clearance, no additional action is necessary. Visit Interim Background Check Application Process for instructions on completing the new interim hard copy application. This process is subject to change. Any changes will be noticed here, the temporary Health Care Services page, Alaska Medicaid Health Enterprise, and on Alaska DHSS social media.
Third-Party Vendor Background Checks: On May 11, 2021, the department allowed providers to use third party background checks while CourtView was down due to the court system cyberattack. If you have been using a third-party vendor, you may continue to use that process for provisional approval through May 23rd. Effective May 24th, the Background Check Program will resume CourtView review of all applications.
DHSS Website Experiences Cyber Attack
The Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) website was the target of a cyber-attack on May 17, 2021 (see DHSS press release). The DHSS website was taken offline while the investigation is being conducted and will be unavailable to the public until further details are known about the incident. In the interim, the Division of Health Care Services has published a temporary page to provide Alaskans with critical contact information about each of the HCS sections and programs. DHSS thanks you for your patience.
Visit DHSS Website Outage for department contacts and cyberattack updates.
2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)
DHSS is closely monitoring an outbreak of respiratory illness caused by a novel coronavirus. Learn more about 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). Please check back frequently for new information and important updates.
Temporary Expansion of Telehealth Services
COVID-19 Messages
