{
  "resourceType": "CodeSystem",
  "id": "reference-handling-policy",
  "meta": {
    "lastUpdated": "2026-05-25T22:13:44.118+00:00"
  },
  "text": {
    "status": "generated",
    "div": "\u003cdiv xmlns\u003d\"http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml\"\u003e\u003cp class\u003d\"res-header-id\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eGenerated Narrative: CodeSystem reference-handling-policy\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\u003ca name\u003d\"reference-handling-policy\"\u003e \u003c/a\u003e\u003ca name\u003d\"hcreference-handling-policy\"\u003e \u003c/a\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis case-sensitive code system \u003ccode\u003ehttp://hl7.org/fhir/reference-handling-policy\u003c/code\u003e defines the following codes:\u003c/p\u003e\u003ctable class\u003d\"codes\"\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd style\u003d\"white-space:nowrap\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eCode\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd\u003e\u003cb\u003eDisplay\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd\u003e\u003cb\u003eDefinition\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd style\u003d\"white-space:nowrap\"\u003eliteral\u003ca name\u003d\"reference-handling-policy-literal\"\u003e \u003c/a\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd\u003eLiteral References\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd\u003eThe server supports and populates Literal references (i.e. using Reference.reference) where they are known (this code does not guarantee that all references are literal; see \u0027enforced\u0027).\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd style\u003d\"white-space:nowrap\"\u003elogical\u003ca name\u003d\"reference-handling-policy-logical\"\u003e \u003c/a\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd\u003eLogical References\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd\u003eThe server allows logical references (i.e. using Reference.identifier).\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd style\u003d\"white-space:nowrap\"\u003eresolves\u003ca name\u003d\"reference-handling-policy-resolves\"\u003e \u003c/a\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd\u003eResolves References\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd\u003eThe server will attempt to resolve logical references to literal references - i.e. converting Reference.identifier to Reference.reference (if resolution fails, the server may still accept resources; see logical).\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd style\u003d\"white-space:nowrap\"\u003eenforced\u003ca name\u003d\"reference-handling-policy-enforced\"\u003e \u003c/a\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd\u003eReference Integrity Enforced\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd\u003eThe server enforces that references have integrity - e.g. it ensures that references can always be resolved. This is typically the case for clinical record systems, but often not the case for middleware/proxy systems.\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd style\u003d\"white-space:nowrap\"\u003elocal\u003ca name\u003d\"reference-handling-policy-local\"\u003e \u003c/a\u003e\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd\u003eLocal References Only\u003c/td\u003e\u003ctd\u003eThe server does not support references that point to other servers.\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e\u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e"
  },
  "extension": [
    {
      "url": "http://hl7.org/fhir/StructureDefinition/structuredefinition-wg",
      "valueCode": "fhir"
    },
    {
      "url": "http://hl7.org/fhir/StructureDefinition/structuredefinition-standards-status",
      "valueCode": "normative"
    },
    {
      "url": "http://hl7.org/fhir/StructureDefinition/structuredefinition-fmm",
      "valueInteger": 5
    }
  ],
  "url": "http://hl7.org/fhir/reference-handling-policy",
  "identifier": [
    {
      "system": "urn:ietf:rfc:3986",
      "value": "urn:oid:2.16.840.1.113883.4.642.4.203"
    },
    {
      "use": "old",
      "system": "urn:ietf:rfc:3986",
      "value": "urn:oid:2.16.840.1.113883.4.642.1.193"
    }
  ],
  "version": "6.0.0-ballot4",
  "name": "ReferenceHandlingPolicy",
  "title": "Reference Handling Policy",
  "status": "active",
  "experimental": false,
  "date": "2021-01-05T10:01:24+11:00",
  "publisher": "HL7 (FHIR Project)",
  "contact": [
    {
      "telecom": [
        {
          "system": "url",
          "value": "http://hl7.org/fhir"
        },
        {
          "system": "email",
          "value": "fhir@lists.hl7.org"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "description": "A set of flags that defines how references are supported.",
  "jurisdiction": [
    {
      "coding": [
        {
          "system": "http://unstats.un.org/unsd/methods/m49/m49.htm",
          "code": "001",
          "display": "World"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "caseSensitive": true,
  "valueSet": "http://hl7.org/fhir/ValueSet/reference-handling-policy",
  "content": "complete",
  "concept": [
    {
      "code": "literal",
      "display": "Literal References",
      "definition": "The server supports and populates Literal references (i.e. using Reference.reference) where they are known (this code does not guarantee that all references are literal; see \u0027enforced\u0027)."
    },
    {
      "code": "logical",
      "display": "Logical References",
      "definition": "The server allows logical references (i.e. using Reference.identifier)."
    },
    {
      "code": "resolves",
      "display": "Resolves References",
      "definition": "The server will attempt to resolve logical references to literal references - i.e. converting Reference.identifier to Reference.reference (if resolution fails, the server may still accept resources; see logical)."
    },
    {
      "code": "enforced",
      "display": "Reference Integrity Enforced",
      "definition": "The server enforces that references have integrity - e.g. it ensures that references can always be resolved. This is typically the case for clinical record systems, but often not the case for middleware/proxy systems."
    },
    {
      "code": "local",
      "display": "Local References Only",
      "definition": "The server does not support references that point to other servers."
    }
  ]
}