Opioid Measure Included in Human Services Omnibus Bill

April 27, 2023

This week, the House and Senate passed different versions of the omnibus human services budget bill that funds nursing homes, programs for disabled Minnesotans, and other social services programs. Included in both bills are amendments to the Department of Human Services’ Opioid Prescribing Improvement Program (OPIP). 

The OPIP was established as a quality improvement program to address over-prescribing of opioids for those participating in the Medical Assistance program. The MMA has supported the work of the program since its inception in 2015, including regularly recommending physician members to participate with their opioid prescribing work group. 

In recent years, however, concerns have been raised that the program is punishing prescribers who treat patients with chronic pain who depend on high doses of opioids, and that the program has created a disincentive to continue to treat these patients. 

Original language proposed by DHS would have increased the program’s authority to sanction prescribers who prescribe higher doses than those defined by the program as appropriate. However, the current version of both bills was amended to limit this authority.  These amendments were backed by the MMA and the Minnesota Society of Interventional Pain Physicians.  

The current Senate version removes all new sanction authority and sunsets the program on July 1, 2024.  At a time when opioid prescribing has been reduced dramatically this program is resulting in patients being forced to taper opioids even if this is not in the patient’s best interest. The House bill also removes the new sanction authority but does not include the sunset. The different versions of the human services omnibus bills will be reconciled in a conference committee in the upcoming weeks.