DHSS website experiencing cyberattack; some services disrupted as investigation is conducted
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media contacts: Clinton Bennett, DHSS, 907-269-4996, [email protected]
DHSS website experiencing cyberattack; some services disrupted as investigation
is conducted
May 18, 2021 ANCHORAGE –The Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) has identified the
dhss.alaska.gov website as the target of a malware attack. The department is investigating the incident
in cooperation with the appropriate authorities and is taking immediate actions to prevent further
disruption and harm to its servers, systems and databases.
“I am grateful to our Information Technology staff for the long hours they have already put in to work
through this cyberattack and for everyone at DHSS who is making sure our programs and services have
not been halted,” said Commissioner Adam Crum. “Unfortunately, this type of malicious attack is part
of the cost of conducting any kind of business online as there are constant threats from people
worldwide trying to infiltrate IT systems. I want to assure Alaskans that our department is doing
everything possible to get our website back up and running safely and to understand the scope of the
attack, its impacts, and how to prevent this from happening in the future.”
The DHSS website was taken offline the evening of Monday, May 17 while the investigation is being
conducted and will be unavailable to the public until further details are known about the incident.
Some services, such as COVID-19 vaccine appointment scheduling and the data dashboards, are hosted
by outside sources and can still be accessed through covid19.alaska.gov.
The list of affected services is below. However, the department is working as quickly as possible to
ensure continuity of services to beneficiaries and providers. Investigators are also in the process of
determining whether any personal or confidential information was compromised.
At this time, there are no details about who initiated the attack, why they targeted DHSS, whether this
attack is related to any other recent attacks, or how long the website may be down. As is common with
an investigation into this type of cyberattack, this one is expected to take some time to fully
understand the full scope and impact of the incident.
The department will continue to provide updates to the public as details are confirmed, including
notifying any partners, vendors or individuals who may be identified as being directly affected by the
attack.
For phone assistance during business hours (8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.), please contact the department at 907-
269-7800 or download a detailed list of contacts for divisions, sections and programs. For questions
specific to COVID-19, the COVID-19 vaccine helpline is available at 907-646-3322 from 9 a.m. - 6:30
p.m. on weekdays, and 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. on weekends. You may also email
[email protected] for help. We ask Alaskans for their patience as we work through this
rapidly evolving situation during an already demanding time.
# # #
List of DHSS services offline as of May 18, 2021
The following online services are currently offline. This list may change as some services go offline or
others return back online. We recommend using the phone list attached to this press release if you
have further questions about specific services.
• AKAIMS – Alaska's Behavioral Health and Substance Abuse Management System
• DHSS public website
• State of Alaska Vital Records System
• DHSS Background Check System
• Find A Childcare Provider
• Case Management System – Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Work Activities
• IBIS – Indicator Based Information System for Public Health
• ILP – Grantee Based System for Infant Learning Program
o Grantee-based information exchange for the Infant Learning Program
o Grantee-based reporting for the Infant Learning Program
• SAGE – System for Schools to Report Vaccine Data to Public Health
• YODA – Youth Offender Data Application for Youth Courts
• GEMS – Grantee Portal for Grants Electronic Management System
• AKVaxMatch – Alaska Provider Vaccine Exchange
• Developmental Disabilities Waiver Online Form
• DHSS Epidemiological Bulletins
• Count of Available Beds in Various Behavioral Health Facilities
• Review Process for Health Care Construction Projects and Equipment Purchases State Expends
for Medicaid
• Vital Statistics Online Data Request Form
Department of Health & Social Services
Contact List
May 2021
Division Contact
Office of the Commissioner: 907-269-7800
• Office of the Commissioner
907-269-7800
• Alaska Pioneer Homes
907-465-4416
• Alaska Psychiatric Institute
907-269-7100
• Behavioral Health
800-465-4828
• Finance and Management Services
907-465-3030
• Health Care Services
907-465-5829
• Juvenile Justice
907-465-2212
• Office of Children’s Services
907-269-4000
• Public Assistance
888-876-2477
• Public Health
907-465-3090
• Senior and Disabilities Services
800-478-9996
Assistance Services
• Adult Public Assistance
800-478-7778
• Child Care
888-268-4632
• Chronic & Acute Medical
Assistance
800-478-7778
• Denali KidCare
800-478-7778
• Food Stamps (SNAP)
800-478-7778
• General Relief Assistance
800-478-7778
• Heating Assistance
800-478-7778
• Medicaid
800-478-7778
• Medicare
800-633-4227
• Senior Benefits
800-478-7778
• Temporary Assistance
800-478-7778
• WIC (Women’s, Infants, and
Children) Program
907-465-3100
Children’s Services
• Report Child Abuse
800-478-4444
[email protected]
• Adoption & Guardianship
800-478-7307
• Family Nutrition Services
907-465-3100
• Foster Care
800-478-7307
• Head Start Services
866-763-6481
• Independent Living
465-8659
• Infant Learning Program
1-800-478-9996
• Victim’s Rights (Juvenile Justice)
844-754-3460
Health Services
• Alaska Psychiatric Institute
800-770-3930 or 907-269-7100
• Birth, Death, Divorce & Marriage
Certificates
907-269-0991
• Breast and Cervical Cancer
800-410-6266
• COVID-19 vaccine helpline
907-646-3322
[email protected]
• Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
877-393-2287
• Genetic and Pediatric Specialty
Clinics
907-269-3418
• Health Facilities Licensing &
Certification
907-334-2664
• Immunization Information
888-430-4321
• Medicaid Preferred Drug List
907-334-2425
• Newborn Metabolic Screening
907-334-2295
• Oral Health
907-269-7378
• Personal Care Services Program
800-478-9996
• Public Health Nursing Centers
907-334-2260
• Residential Licensing
907-334-2492
• Suicide Prevention
877-266-4357
• Substance Abuse Treatment
800-662-4357
• Tribal Health
907-269-7285
• Tobacco Prevention and Control
907-269-2020
• Vital Records
907-465-3391
Services for Adults
• Adult Public Assistance
800-478-7778
• Alaska Pioneer Homes
907-465-4416
• Central Intake for Critical Incident
Reporting & Mandatory Reporting
1-800-478-9996 or 907-269-3666
(907)269-3648 fax
[email protected]
DSM (secure) email
• Medicaid
888-804-6330
• Medicaid Preferred Drug List
907-334-2425
• Personal Care Services Program
800-478-9996
• Report Abuse of Vulnerable Adults
800-478-9996
or 907-269-3666
• Senior Benefits Program
800-478-7778
Media contacts: Clinton Bennett, DHSS, 907-269-4996, [email protected]
DHSS website experiencing cyberattack; some services disrupted as investigation
is conducted
May 18, 2021 ANCHORAGE –The Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) has identified the
dhss.alaska.gov website as the target of a malware attack. The department is investigating the incident
in cooperation with the appropriate authorities and is taking immediate actions to prevent further
disruption and harm to its servers, systems and databases.
“I am grateful to our Information Technology staff for the long hours they have already put in to work
through this cyberattack and for everyone at DHSS who is making sure our programs and services have
not been halted,” said Commissioner Adam Crum. “Unfortunately, this type of malicious attack is part
of the cost of conducting any kind of business online as there are constant threats from people
worldwide trying to infiltrate IT systems. I want to assure Alaskans that our department is doing
everything possible to get our website back up and running safely and to understand the scope of the
attack, its impacts, and how to prevent this from happening in the future.”
The DHSS website was taken offline the evening of Monday, May 17 while the investigation is being
conducted and will be unavailable to the public until further details are known about the incident.
Some services, such as COVID-19 vaccine appointment scheduling and the data dashboards, are hosted
by outside sources and can still be accessed through covid19.alaska.gov.
The list of affected services is below. However, the department is working as quickly as possible to
ensure continuity of services to beneficiaries and providers. Investigators are also in the process of
determining whether any personal or confidential information was compromised.
At this time, there are no details about who initiated the attack, why they targeted DHSS, whether this
attack is related to any other recent attacks, or how long the website may be down. As is common with
an investigation into this type of cyberattack, this one is expected to take some time to fully
understand the full scope and impact of the incident.
The department will continue to provide updates to the public as details are confirmed, including
notifying any partners, vendors or individuals who may be identified as being directly affected by the
attack.
For phone assistance during business hours (8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.), please contact the department at 907-
269-7800 or download a detailed list of contacts for divisions, sections and programs. For questions
specific to COVID-19, the COVID-19 vaccine helpline is available at 907-646-3322 from 9 a.m. - 6:30
p.m. on weekdays, and 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. on weekends. You may also email
[email protected] for help. We ask Alaskans for their patience as we work through this
rapidly evolving situation during an already demanding time.
# # #
List of DHSS services offline as of May 18, 2021
The following online services are currently offline. This list may change as some services go offline or
others return back online. We recommend using the phone list attached to this press release if you
have further questions about specific services.
• AKAIMS – Alaska's Behavioral Health and Substance Abuse Management System
• DHSS public website
• State of Alaska Vital Records System
• DHSS Background Check System
• Find A Childcare Provider
• Case Management System – Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Work Activities
• IBIS – Indicator Based Information System for Public Health
• ILP – Grantee Based System for Infant Learning Program
o Grantee-based information exchange for the Infant Learning Program
o Grantee-based reporting for the Infant Learning Program
• SAGE – System for Schools to Report Vaccine Data to Public Health
• YODA – Youth Offender Data Application for Youth Courts
• GEMS – Grantee Portal for Grants Electronic Management System
• AKVaxMatch – Alaska Provider Vaccine Exchange
• Developmental Disabilities Waiver Online Form
• DHSS Epidemiological Bulletins
• Count of Available Beds in Various Behavioral Health Facilities
• Review Process for Health Care Construction Projects and Equipment Purchases State Expends
for Medicaid
• Vital Statistics Online Data Request Form
Department of Health & Social Services
Contact List
May 2021
Division Contact
Office of the Commissioner: 907-269-7800
• Office of the Commissioner
907-269-7800
• Alaska Pioneer Homes
907-465-4416
• Alaska Psychiatric Institute
907-269-7100
• Behavioral Health
800-465-4828
• Finance and Management Services
907-465-3030
• Health Care Services
907-465-5829
• Juvenile Justice
907-465-2212
• Office of Children’s Services
907-269-4000
• Public Assistance
888-876-2477
• Public Health
907-465-3090
• Senior and Disabilities Services
800-478-9996
Assistance Services
• Adult Public Assistance
800-478-7778
• Child Care
888-268-4632
• Chronic & Acute Medical
Assistance
800-478-7778
• Denali KidCare
800-478-7778
• Food Stamps (SNAP)
800-478-7778
• General Relief Assistance
800-478-7778
• Heating Assistance
800-478-7778
• Medicaid
800-478-7778
• Medicare
800-633-4227
• Senior Benefits
800-478-7778
• Temporary Assistance
800-478-7778
• WIC (Women’s, Infants, and
Children) Program
907-465-3100
Children’s Services
• Report Child Abuse
800-478-4444
[email protected]
• Adoption & Guardianship
800-478-7307
• Family Nutrition Services
907-465-3100
• Foster Care
800-478-7307
• Head Start Services
866-763-6481
• Independent Living
465-8659
• Infant Learning Program
1-800-478-9996
• Victim’s Rights (Juvenile Justice)
844-754-3460
Health Services
• Alaska Psychiatric Institute
800-770-3930 or 907-269-7100
• Birth, Death, Divorce & Marriage
Certificates
907-269-0991
• Breast and Cervical Cancer
800-410-6266
• COVID-19 vaccine helpline
907-646-3322
[email protected]
• Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
877-393-2287
• Genetic and Pediatric Specialty
Clinics
907-269-3418
• Health Facilities Licensing &
Certification
907-334-2664
• Immunization Information
888-430-4321
• Medicaid Preferred Drug List
907-334-2425
• Newborn Metabolic Screening
907-334-2295
• Oral Health
907-269-7378
• Personal Care Services Program
800-478-9996
• Public Health Nursing Centers
907-334-2260
• Residential Licensing
907-334-2492
• Suicide Prevention
877-266-4357
• Substance Abuse Treatment
800-662-4357
• Tribal Health
907-269-7285
• Tobacco Prevention and Control
907-269-2020
• Vital Records
907-465-3391
Services for Adults
• Adult Public Assistance
800-478-7778
• Alaska Pioneer Homes
907-465-4416
• Central Intake for Critical Incident
Reporting & Mandatory Reporting
1-800-478-9996 or 907-269-3666
(907)269-3648 fax
[email protected]
DSM (secure) email
• Medicaid
888-804-6330
• Medicaid Preferred Drug List
907-334-2425
• Personal Care Services Program
800-478-9996
• Report Abuse of Vulnerable Adults
800-478-9996
or 907-269-3666
• Senior Benefits Program
800-478-7778
