2022 CDC Clinical Practice Guideline for Prescribing Opioids Implementation Guide
2022.1.0 - CI Build

2022 CDC Clinical Practice Guideline for Prescribing Opioids Implementation Guide, published by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This guide is not an authorized publication; it is the continuous build for version 2022.1.0 built by the FHIR (HL7® FHIR® Standard) CI Build. This version is based on the current content of https://github.com/cqframework/opioid-cds-r4/ and changes regularly. See the Directory of published versions

PlanDefinition: Recommendation #6 - Prescribe Lowest Effective Dose and Duration (Experimental)

Official URL: http://fhir.org/guides/cdc/opioid-cds/PlanDefinition/opioidcds-06 Version: 2022.1.0
Draft as of 2025-04-24 Computable Name: PlanDefinition_Recommendation_06_Order_Sign
Other Identifiers: cdc-opioid-guidance (use: official, )

Usage:Clinical Focus: Medication requested (situation), Clinical Focus: Acute pain (finding)

Copyright/Legal: © CDC 2016+.

When opioids are needed for acute pain, clinicians should prescribe no greater quantity than needed for the expected duration of pain severe enough to require opioids.

The 2022 CDC Clinical Practice Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Pain is intended to improve communication between clinicians and patients about the benefits and risks of pain treatments, including opioid therapy; improve the effectiveness and safety of pain treatment; mitigate pain; improve function and quality of life for patients with pain; and reduce risks associated with opioid pain therapy, including opioid use disorder, overdose, and death. The recommendations do not apply to pain related to sickle cell disease or cancer or to patients receiving palliative or end-of-life care.

Id: opioidcds-06
Url: Recommendation #6 - Prescribe Lowest Effective Dose and Duration
Version: 2022.1.0
Identifier:

value: cdc-opioid-guidance

Name: PlanDefinition_Recommendation_06_Order_Sign
Title: Recommendation #6 - Prescribe Lowest Effective Dose and Duration
Status: draft
Experimental: true
Type:

system: http://terminology.hl7.org/CodeSystem/plan-definition-type

code: eca-rule

display: ECA Rule

Date: 2025-04-24
Publisher: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Description: When opioids are needed for acute pain, clinicians should prescribe no greater quantity than needed for the expected duration of pain severe enough to require opioids.
Logic Definitions:
Library NameNamesequence
OpioidCDSREC06 Acute Pain Opioid Analgesic with Ambulatory Misuse Potential Prescriptions 0
define "Acute Pain Opioid Analgesic with Ambulatory Misuse Potential Prescriptions":
  ( Common."Is Opioid Analgesic with Ambulatory Misuse Potential?"( ContextPrescriptions ) ) AmbulatoryOpioidPrescription
    where Routines."Is Acute Pain Prescription?"( AmbulatoryOpioidPrescription )
      and Routines."Acute Pain Prescription Greater Than 7 Days?"(AmbulatoryOpioidPrescription)


Library NameNamesequence
OpioidCDSREC06 Patient Is Being Prescribed Opioid Analgesic with Ambulatory Misuse Potential for Acute Pain 1
define "Patient Is Being Prescribed Opioid Analgesic with Ambulatory Misuse Potential for Acute Pain":
  exists( "Acute Pain Opioid Analgesic with Ambulatory Misuse Potential Prescriptions" )


Library NameNamesequence
OpioidCDSRoutines Patient Age Less Than 18 2
define "Patient Age Less Than 18":
  if (Config."Age Less than 18 Years Is Enabled") then
    AgeInYearsAt(Today()) < 18
  else false


Library NameNamesequence
OpioidCDSRoutines Condition Positive for Sickle Cell 3
define "Condition Positive for Sickle Cell":
  if (Config."Sickle Cell Check Enabled") then
    exists(
      Common."Positive Sickle Cell Condition"
    ) 
  else false


Library NameNamesequence
OpioidCDSRoutines Is Active Cancer Treatment? 4
define "Is Active Cancer Treatment?":
  if (Config."Active Cancer Treatment Encounters Condition Is Enabled") 
    then "Has Two or More Encounters with Cancer Diagnosis During Encounter Period"
      or "Has Active Cancer Diagnosis on Problem List"
  else false


Library NameNamesequence
OpioidCDSRoutines Conditions Likely Terminal for Opioid Prescribing 5
define "Conditions Likely Terminal for Opioid Prescribing":
  if (Config."End-Stage Disease Criteria Enabled") then
    exists (
      Common."US Core-Categorized Conditions" EOLC
        where EOLC.code in Common."Conditions likely terminal for opioid prescribing"
          // and EOLC.clinicalStatus in Common."Active Condition"
    )
  else false


Library NameNamesequence
OpioidCDSRoutines Is Opioid Review Useful? 6
define "Is Opioid Review Useful?":
  not "Patient Age Less Than 18"
    and not "Condition Positive for Sickle Cell"
    and not "Is Active Cancer Treatment?"
    and not "Conditions Likely Terminal for Opioid Prescribing"


Library NameNamesequence
OpioidCDSREC06 Order is for Long-Acting Opioid 7
define "Order is for Long-Acting Opioid":
  exists (
    "Acute Pain Opioid Analgesic with Ambulatory Misuse Potential Prescriptions" AmbulatoryOpioidPrescription
      where AmbulatoryOpioidPrescription.medication in Common."Extended release opioid with ambulatory misuse potential"
        or Common.GetDurationInDays( AmbulatoryOpioidPrescription.dispenseRequest.expectedSupplyDuration ) > 7 days
  )


Library NameNamesequence
OpioidCDSREC06 Inclusion Criteria 8
define "Inclusion Criteria":
  "Patient Is Being Prescribed Opioid Analgesic with Ambulatory Misuse Potential for Acute Pain"
    and Routines."Is Opioid Review Useful?"
    and "Order is for Long-Acting Opioid"


Library NameNamesequence
OpioidCDSREC06 Exclusion Criteria 9
define "Exclusion Criteria":
  false


Library NameNamesequence
OpioidCDSREC06 Is Recommendation Applicable? 10
define "Is Recommendation Applicable?":
  "Inclusion Criteria"
    and not "Exclusion Criteria"


Library NameNamesequence
OpioidCDSCommon Is Opioid Analgesic with Ambulatory Misuse Potential? 11
define function "Is Opioid Analgesic with Ambulatory Misuse Potential?"(value List<MedicationRequest>):
  ("Get MedicationRequest Medication as Code"(value)) Rx
    where Rx.medication in "Opioid analgesics with ambulatory misuse potential" 
      and Rx.category in "Community"


Library NameNamesequence
OpioidCDSCommon Get MedicationRequest Medication as Code 12
define function "Get MedicationRequest Medication as Code"(value List<MedicationRequest>):
  value Rx
    let Med: 
      if Rx.medication is Reference then singleton from (
        [Medication] M
          where M.id = (Last(Split((Rx.medication as FHIR.Reference).reference, '/')))
      ) else null
    return 
      MedicationRequest {
        id: Rx.id,
        status: Rx.status,
        intent: Rx.intent,
        category: Rx.category,
        medication: if Rx.medication is Reference then Med.code else Rx.medication as CodeableConcept,
        subject: Rx.subject,
        authoredOn: Rx.authoredOn,
        recorder: Rx.recorder,
        dosageInstruction: Rx.dosageInstruction,
        dispenseRequest: Rx.dispenseRequest
      }


Library NameNamesequence
FHIRHelpers ToConcept 13
define function ToConcept(concept FHIR.CodeableConcept):
    if concept is null then
        null
    else
        System.Concept {
            codes: concept.coding C return ToCode(C),
            display: concept.text.value
        }


Library NameNamesequence
OpioidCDSRoutines Is Acute Pain Prescription? 14
// End of For Subacute or Chronic Pain Routine

/*
**  Routine #5
**  For Acute Pain Routine
**
**  Definition                  | Answer to Proceed   | Details                                        | Data (Terminology) Requirement
**  -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
**  Order for opioid analgesics | Yes                 | Look for an existing prescription (order) for  | Opioid analgesics with
**  with ambulatory misuse      |                     | opioid analgesics with ambulatory abuse        | ambulatory misuse potential
**  potential of duration < 28  |                     | potential of duration < 28 days                |
**  days                        |                     |                                                |
**  -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
**
*/

// should allow DateTime precision, but not working in the Ruler specifically
define function "Is Acute Pain Prescription?"(prescription FHIR.MedicationRequest):
  prescription.dispenseRequest is not null
    and prescription.dispenseRequest.expectedSupplyDuration is not null
    and Common.GetDurationInDays( prescription.dispenseRequest.expectedSupplyDuration ) < 28 days


Library NameNamesequence
OpioidCDSCommon GetDurationInDays 15
define function GetDurationInDays(value FHIR.Duration):
  if value is null then null
  else
    case
      when value.code.value ~ 'a' then System.Quantity{ value: value.value.value * 365.0, unit: 'days' }
      when value.code.value ~ 'mo' then System.Quantity{ value: value.value.value * 30.0, unit: 'days' }
      when value.code.value ~ 'wk' then System.Quantity{ value: value.value.value * 7.0, unit: 'days' }
      when value.code.value ~ 'd' then System.Quantity{ value: value.value.value, unit: 'days' }
      when value.code.value ~ 'h' then System.Quantity{ value: value.value.value / 24.0, unit: 'days' }
      when value.code.value ~ 'min' then System.Quantity{ value: value.value.value / 60.0 / 24.0, unit: 'days' }
      when value.code.value ~ 's' then System.Quantity{ value: value.value.value / 60.0 / 60.0 / 24.0, unit: 'days' }
      when value.code.value ~ 'ms' then System.Quantity{ value: value.value.value / 60.0 / 60.0 / 24.0 / 1000.0, unit: 'days' }
      when value.code.value is null then Message(1000, true, 'Undefined', 'Error', 'Duration unit code is null')
      else Message(1000, true, 'Undefined', 'Error', 'Unsupported duration unit code: ' + value.code.value)
end


Library NameNamesequence
OpioidCDSRoutines Acute Pain Prescription Greater Than 7 Days? 16
// should allow DateTime precision, but not working in the Ruler specifically
define function "Acute Pain Prescription Greater Than 7 Days?"(prescription FHIR.MedicationRequest):
      prescription.dispenseRequest is not null
    and prescription.dispenseRequest.expectedSupplyDuration is not null
    and Common.GetDurationInDays( prescription.dispenseRequest.expectedSupplyDuration ) > 7 days
    and Common.GetDurationInDays( prescription.dispenseRequest.expectedSupplyDuration ) < 28 days


Knowledge Capability: shareable computable executable publishable
Use Context:
codevaluedisplay
focus 182888003 Medication requested (situation)
focus 274663001 Acute pain (finding)
Purpose:

The 2022 CDC Clinical Practice Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Pain is intended to improve communication between clinicians and patients about the benefits and risks of pain treatments, including opioid therapy; improve the effectiveness and safety of pain treatment; mitigate pain; improve function and quality of life for patients with pain; and reduce risks associated with opioid pain therapy, including opioid use disorder, overdose, and death. The recommendations do not apply to pain related to sickle cell disease or cancer or to patients receiving palliative or end-of-life care.

Usage: When the diagnosis and severity of acute pain warrant use of opioids, clinicians should prescribe no greater quantity than needed for the expected duration of pain severe enough to require opioids. For many common causes of nontraumatic, nonsurgical pain, when opioids are needed, a few days or less are often sufficient, and shorter courses can minimize the need to taper opioids to prevent withdrawal symptoms at the end of a course of opioids. However, durations should be individualized to the patient's clinical circumstances.
Copyright:

© CDC 2016+.

Related Artifacts:

Documentation

Libraries:
Library - Recommendation #6 - Prescribe Lowest Effective Dose and Duration
Actions:
When Treating Acute Pain, Prescribe No More Opioids Than Needed: Please verify that the opioid order quantity and duration are no more than needed for the expected duration of pain severe enough to require opioids. For guidance regarding prescribing opioids for acute pain, see [Recommendation 6 of the 2022 CDC Clinical Practice Guideline](https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/71/rr/rr7103a1.htm#Recommendation6).
When: Named Event: order-sign
If: Applicability: Check whether the current order is for an opioid with ambulatory misuse potential for acute pain with an intended duration of more than 7 days and if an opioid review is appropriate for the patient (Is Recommendation Applicable?)
Then:
: Document - Will adjust opioid order
Then:
: Snooze* - Benefits of opioid therapy duration outweigh risks, snooze 3 months
Then:
: Snooze* - N/A see comment, snooze 3 months
Then: