DHS Set to Distribute 2021 Opioid Prescribing Reports

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.