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December 2, 2025 Carrie McGregor, Authorized Agent Specialized Treatment Services Inc 1132 Central Ave NE Minneapolis, MN 55413
License Number: 1063313 (245G)
CORRECTION ORDER
Dear Carrie: On September 9, 10, 11, and 12, 2025, Department of Human Services (DHS) licensors conducted a licensing review and investigation at your facility, Specialized Treatment Services Inc. located at 7472 Lakeland Ave North, Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, 55428. This review was conducted to determine compliance with state and federal laws and rules governing the provision of substance use disorder treatment under MN Statute, chapter 245G. As a result, DHS is issuing this order which requires you to take the correction action as described under each violation. Details of our findings are provided below. Our next steps and your options are also detailed. LICENSING VIOLATIONS
Policies, Procedures, and Practices
DHS determined that your program did not meet licensing rules and statutes, as described below. 1. Violation: The license holder’s description of treatment services did not meet requirements. The description of treatment services did not:
a. Identify which services meet the definition of group counseling; and
b. Identify the program’s treatment week.
Statute Violated: Minnesota Statutes, section 245G.12, clause (10).
Repeat Violation: In a Correction Order that DHS issued on March 14, 2022, you were previously found in violation of this same statute.
Corrective Action Required: Immediately and on an ongoing basis, the license holder must ensure that the treatment services policy meets all applicable requirements. Within 60 days of receipt of this order, submit an updated treatment services policy that meets all applicable requirements. 2. Violation: The license holder’s policies and procedures reviewed for requirements governing the provision of telehealth in Minnesota Statutes, section 256B.0625, subdivision 3b did not meet requirements. The telehealth policies and procedures did not:
a. Identify the categories or types of services the health care provider will provide through telehealth;
b. Have written policies and procedures specific to services delivered through telehealth that are regularly reviewed and updated; and
c. Establish a quality assurance process related to delivering services through telehealth.
Statute Violated: Minnesota Statutes, section 245G.07, subdivision 4, paragraph (c), clause (2).
Corrective Action Required: Immediately and on an ongoing basis, the license holder must ensure that the telehealth policies and procedures meet all applicable requirements. Within 60 days of receipt of this order, submit an updated telehealth policy that meets all appliable statute requirements. 3. Violation: The license holder did not meet requirements governing quality improvement plans. The quality improvement plan from calendar year 2025 did not have a specific goal area for the following:
a. Oversight and monitoring of the premises around and near the exterior of the program to reduce the possibility of medication use for the treatment of opioid use disorder being inappropriately used by a client, including but not limited to the sale or transfer of the medication to others; and
b. Community outreach, including but not limited to communications with local law enforcement and county human services agencies, to increase coordination of services and identification of areas of concern to be addressed in the plan.
Statute Violated: Minnesota Statutes, section 245G.22, subdivision 18, clause (5).
Corrective Action Required: Immediately and on an ongoing basis, the license holder must ensure that quality improvement plans meet all applicable requirements. Within 60 days of receipt of this order, submit a quality improvement plan that meets all applicable requirements. 4. Violation: The license holder’s policies and procedures reviewed for requirements governing the prescription monitoring program (PMP) did not meet requirements. The policies and procedures did not include the following:
a. The medical director or the medical director’s delegate’s subsequent reviews of the PMP data must occur at least every 90 days; and
b. When the PMP data contains a recent history of multiple prescribers or multiple prescriptions for controlled substances, the documentation of the licensed practitioner’s determination of whether or not prescriptions place the client at risk of harm and the actions to be taken in response to the PMP findings must be in the client’s file within 72 hours of PMP data review.
Statute Violated: Minnesota Statutes, section 245G.22, subdivision 16, paragraphs (a) and (b), clauses (2) and (4).
Corrective Action Required: Immediately and on an ongoing basis, the license holder must ensure the prescription monitoring program meets all applicable requirements. Within 60 days of receipt of this order, submit an updated prescription monitoring program policy and documentation that staff have been trained on the updated policy that meets all applicable requirements. Client Files
5. Violation: Three of five client files reviewed for requirements governing initial services plan (client files numbered 1, 3 and 6) did not meet requirements in the following ways:
a. The initial services plan was not person centered and client specific; and
b. The initial services place did not identify treatment needs to be addressed during the time between the day of service initiation and development of the individual treatment plan.
Statute Violated: Minnesota Statutes, section 245G.04, subdivision 1.
Repeat Violation: In a Correction Order that DHS issued on March 14, 2022, you were previously found in violation of this same statute.
Corrective Action Required: Immediately, and on an ongoing basis, the license holder must ensure that initial service plans meet all applicable requirements.
6. Violation: Five of five client files reviewed for requirements governing comprehensive assessments did not meet requirements. The comprehensive assessment did not include the following:
a. Circumstances of relapse (client file numbered 6);
b. The client’s resources including the quality of the client’s social networks (client file numbered 6);
c. Important developmental incidents in the client’s life (client files numbered 6 and 8);
d. Potential brain injuries that the client has suffered (client file numbered 8);
e. The client’s history of or exposure to alcohol and drug usage (client files numbered 1 and 6);
f. The client’s family health history (client files numbered 1 and 6);
g. A determination of whether the individual screens positive for co-occurring mental health disorders using a screening tool approved by the commissioner (client files numbered 1 through 3, and 6 and 8); and
h. A recommendation for the ASAM level of care identified in Minnesota Statutes, section 254B.19, subdivision 1 (client files numbered 2, 3, 6, and 8).
Statute Violated: Minnesota Statute, section 245G.05, subdivision 3.
Repeat Violation: In a Correction Order that DHS issued on March 14, 2022, you were previously found in violation of this same statute.
Corrective Action Required: Immediately, and on an ongoing basis, the license holder must ensure that comprehensive assessments meet all applicable requirements.
7. Violation: Five of six client files reviewed for requirements governing individual treatment plans (ITP) did not meet requirements in the following ways:
a. The ITP was not completed within 21 days from the day of service initiation (client file numbered 1);
b. The ITP was not updated based on new information gathered about the client’s condition (client file numbered 5);
c. A change to the ITP was not signed by the client (client file numbered 6);
d. The ITP was not based on the client’s comprehensive assessment (client file numbered 6); and
e. The ITP did not include the following:
i. ASAM level of care (client files numbered 2, 3 and 6);
ii. Reasons the client’s family or other natural supports were not involved in the client’s treatment planning (client file numbered 1); and
iii. Resources to refer the client to when the client’s needs will be addressed concurrently by another provider (client files numbered 1 and 6).
Statute Violated: Minnesota Statute, sections 245G.06, subdivisions 1 and 1a, paragraph (a), clauses (1), , (4), (5), and (6).
Repeat Violation: In a Correction Order that DHS issued on March 14, 2022, you were previously found in violation of this same statute.
Corrective Action Required: Immediately, and on an ongoing basis, the license holder must ensure that individual treatment plans meet all applicable requirements.
8. Violation: Six of eight files reviewed for requirements governing client records did not meet requirements. Documentation was not completed within 7 days of the treatment service on the following dates:
a. August 19, 2025 (client file numbered 1);
b. March 3, 2025 (client file numbered 2);
c. May 22, 2024 (client file numbered 4);
d. October 1, 2024 (client file numbered 5); and
e. September 4, 2024, March 5, 2025, and May 2, 2025 (client file numbered 8).
Statute Violated: Minnesota Statute, sections 245G.06, subdivision 2a.
Corrective Action Required: Immediately, and on an ongoing basis, the license holder must ensure that all client records meet all applicable requirements. 9. Violation: Five of five client files reviewed for requirements governing the provision of telehealth did not meet requirements. There was no documentation of the following:
a. Basis for determining that telehealth is an appropriate and effective means for delivering the treatment service on the following dates:
i. August 14, 2025 (client file numbered 2);
ii. July 28 and August 29, 2025 (client file numbered 4);
iii. August 27, 2024 (client file numbered 5;
iv. November 26, 2024 (client file numbered 7); and
v. August 8, 18, September 4, 17, and 27, October 11, November 12, 2024, January 22, February 7, March 5, April 3, May 2, June 4, July 7, and August 14, 2025 (client file numbered 8); and
b. Mode of transmission used to deliver the service through telehealth on August 14, 2025 (client files numbered 2 and 8); and
c. The location of the originating site and the distance site for the following dates:
i. August 14, 2025 (client file numbered 2);
ii. July 28 and August 29, 2025 (client file numbered 4);
iii. August 27, 2024 (client file numbered 5;
iv. November 26, 2024 (client file numbered 7); and
v. August 8, 18, September 4, 17, and 27, October 11, November 12, 2024, January 22, February 7, March 5, April 3, May 2, June 4, July 7, and August 14, 2025 (client file numbered 8).
Statute Violated: Minnesota Statute, sections 245G.07 subdivision 4, paragraph (c), clause (2). Corrective Action Required: Immediately, and on an ongoing basis, the license holder must ensure that for clients receiving telehealth services the records meet all applicable requirements. Within 60 days of receipt of this order the license holder will submit 2 telehealth documentation records that meet all applicable requirements. 10. Violation: Seven of seven client files reviewed for requirements governing treatment plan reviews did not meet requirements in the following ways:
a. The treatment plan review did not indicate the span of time covered by the review for the weeks beginning August 5and 12, 2024, September 2, 16, and 23, 2024 and October 7, 2024 (client file numbered 7); and
b. A treatment plan review was not completed weekly for the ten weeks following completion of a treatment plan for a client receiving nonresidential opioid treatment for the weeks beginning:
i. June 30, July 7, 14, 21, 28, August 4, 11, 18, 25, and September 1, 2025 (client file numbered 1);
ii. March 24, 31, April 14, 21, and 28, 2025 (client file numbered 2);
iii. June 16, 2025 (client file numbered 3);
iv. March 11, 17, 24, and 31, 2025 (client file numbered 6); and
v. August 19 and 26, and September 9 and 30, 2024 (client file numbered 8.
Statute Violated: Minnesota Statute, section 245G.06, subdivisions 3 and 3a, paragraph (f), clause (1).
Repeat Violation: In a Correction Order that DHS issued on March 14, 2022, you were previously found in violation of this same statute.
Corrective Action Required: Immediately, and on an ongoing basis, the license holder must ensure that treatment plan reviews meet all applicable requirements.
11. Violation: Two of eight client files reviewed for requirements governing medication orders used for the treatment of opioid use disorder did not meet requirements. The practitioner that issued the order did not review and sign the order within 72 hours of the medication being ordered on the following dates:
a. July 17, 2025 (client file numbered 3); and
b. October 10, 2024 (client file numbered 5).
Statute Violated: Minnesota Statutes, section 245G.22 subdivision 3, clause (3).
Repeat Violation: In a Correction Order that DHS issued on March 14, 2022, you were previously found in violation of this same statute.
Corrective Action Required: Immediately and on an ongoing basis, the license holder must ensure all medication orders are signed within the required timeframe and meet all applicable requirements.
12. Violation: One of eight client files (client file numbered 4) reviewed for requirements governing restrictions for unsupervised use of methadone hydrochloride did not meet requirements. The practitioner did not review and document the criteria in the Code of Federal Regulations, title 42, part 8.12 (i)(2) when determining whether a client is safely able to manage unsupervised doses of methadone on November 13, 2024.
Statute Violated: Minnesota Statutes, section 245G.22 subdivision 6, paragraphs (b) and (c).
Repeat Violation: In a Correction Order that DHS issued on March 14, 2022, you were previously found in violation of this same statute.
Corrective Action Required: Immediately and on an ongoing basis, the license holder must ensure all unsupervised use of methadone hydrochloride documentation meets all applicable requirements.
Written Response Required
If you fail to correct the violation(s) specified in the Correction Order within the prescribed time lines the Commissioner may issue an Order of Conditional License or may impose a fine and order other licensing sanctions pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, sections 245A.06 and 245A.07. Submissions required as part of the corrective action ordered must be sent to your licensor by email at david.her@state.mn.us or by mail: Commissioner, Department of Human Services
ATTN: David Her Licensing Division PO Box 64242 St. Paul, MN 55164-0242
YOUR RIGHT TO REQUEST RECONSIDERATION
You have the right to request reconsideration of this order and the cited violations. Your request must: · Be in writing
· List each violation you are challenging and identify what is inaccurate or incomplete about the information in the order
· Supply information that is accurate or more complete
· Be made before the deadlines provided below
If you are mailing your request, it must be received by DHS within 20 calendar days from when you received this order. If you do not meet this deadline, you lose your right to request reconsideration. The timeline to appeal began when you received this order. Please send it to: Office of Inspector General Legal Counsel’s Office Attn: Licensing Legal Unit PO Box 64953 St. Paul, MN 55164-0953 If your request is being personally delivered, it must be received by DHS within 20 calendar days from when you received this order. Please bring it to: Commissioner, Department of Human Services Office of Inspector General, Legal Counsel’s Office - Licensing 444 Lafayette Road North St. Paul, MN 55155 Legal authority
This action is taken under Minnesota Statutes, section 245A.06, subdivision 1. The timeline to request reconsideration of the order is provided in Minnesota Statutes, section 245A.06, subdivision 2. Questions
If you have any further questions regarding this matter, you may contact me at 651-431-7229 or at david.her@state.mn.us. Sincerely,
David Her, Licensor Licensing Division Office of Inspector General
PO Box 64242 • Saint Paul, Minnesota • 55164-0242 • An Equal Opportunity and Veteran Friendly Employer https://mn.gov/dhs/general-public/licensing/
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