May 5, 2022
The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) is planning to send more than 15,000 opioid prescribing reports to Minnesota Medicaid and MinnesotaCare providers through the providers’ health system or via the U.S. Postal Service.
All providers who receive a 2021 DHS opioid prescribing report are exempt from their respective licensing board’s requirement to complete two hours of continuing education on prescribing opioids.
DHS has issued reports annually since 2018. The 2021 version is notable because it identifies roughly 300 healthcare providers whose opioid prescribing rates exceed certain quality thresholds. These providers may be required to participate in a quality improvement (QI) program with DHS.
If you receive a report:
Use its data to gain insight into how your opioid prescribing compares to that of your specialty peers.
DHS discourages abrupt cessation or dramatic changes in opioid prescribing for individual patients. Such practices are unsafe and can indicate low-quality care. DHS is monitoring prescribing data and will reach out to providers to address instances where patient safety is in question.
Questions and feedback regarding the reports and quality improvement program can be submitted using the Opioid Prescribing Improvement Program (OPIP) Inquiry form
Information about the quality improvement program and prescribing reports is located on the Opioid Prescribing Improvement Program webpages.
July 10, 2025
With the passage of President Trump’s budget bill, many in healthcare are wondering how it will affect the practice of medicine in the United States, and how it will impact the health of Minnesotans.
July 10, 2025
With an overwhelming 90% vote of support, Allina Health physicians, physicians’ assistants, and nurse practitioners voted to authorize a strike if the members of the Doctors Council – SEIU and Allina cannot reach a deal.
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The Minnesota Department of Health’s (MDH) Equitable Health Care Task Force is seeking public comment on its draft recommendations for improving health equity across the state.