Evidence status: CURRENT STATE STATUTE. Minnesota Statutes §152.125 requires a signed patient-provider agreement before covered treatment for intractable pain with Schedule II-V controlled substances.
Who must enter the agreement
Before treating intractable pain, a physician, advanced practice registered nurse, or physician assistant and the patient or legal guardian must mutually agree to treatment and enter into a patient-provider agreement.
Minimum agreement structure
The agreement must describe the prescriber’s and patient’s expectations, responsibilities, and rights according to best practices and current standards of care.
Signature and recordkeeping
The agreement must be signed by the patient or legal guardian and by the physician, APRN, or physician assistant. It must be placed in the patient’s medical record, and the patient must receive a copy.
Annual review
The agreement must be reviewed annually. If the treatment plan changes, the agreement must be updated, re-signed, retained in the medical record, and provided to the patient.
Risk discussion
Before treatment, the prescriber must discuss risks associated with the Schedule II-V controlled substances to be used and document that discussion in the patient’s record as part of the agreement framework.
Primary source
Reviewed: October 5, 2026.
Evidence boundary: This statute governs treatment for legally defined intractable pain. It does not by itself impose the same agreement requirement on every Minnesota chronic-pain patient.