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 #11 - Concurrent Use of Opioids and Benzodiazepines (patient-view) (Experimental)

Official URL: http://fhir.org/guides/cdc/opioid-cds/PlanDefinition/opioidcds-11-patient-view Version: 2022.1.0
Draft as of 2025-08-06 Computable Name: PlanDefinition_Recommendation_11_Patient_View
Other Identifiers: cdc-opioid-guidance (use: official, )

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

Copyright/Legal: © CDC 2016+.

Clinicians should use particular caution when prescribing opioid pain medication and benzodiazepines concurrently and consider whether benefits outweigh risks of concurrent prescribing of opioids and other central nervous system depressants.

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-11-patient-view
Url: Recommendation #11 - Concurrent Use of Opioids and Benzodiazepines (patient-view)
Version: 2022.1.0
Identifier:

value: cdc-opioid-guidance

Name: PlanDefinition_Recommendation_11_Patient_View
Title: Recommendation #11 - Concurrent Use of Opioids and Benzodiazepines (patient-view)
Status: draft
Experimental: true
Type:

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

code: eca-rule

display: ECA Rule

Date: 2025-08-06
Publisher: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Description: Clinicians should use particular caution when prescribing opioid pain medication and benzodiazepines concurrently and consider whether benefits outweigh risks of concurrent prescribing of opioids and other central nervous system depressants.
Logic Definitions:
Library NameNamesequence
OpioidCDSCommonConfig Can the implementing EHR support queries for past medications by date range? 0
// Subroutine 2 - Past Medications
define "Can the implementing EHR support queries for past medications by date range?":
  true


Library NameNamesequence
OpioidCDSCommon Active Medication List 1
define "Active Medication List":
  [MedicationRequest: status in { 'active' }] ActiveMeds
    where ActiveMeds.category in "Community"


Library NameNamesequence
OpioidCDSCommon Active Ambulatory Benzodiazepine or CNS Depressant Rx 2
define "Active Ambulatory Benzodiazepine or CNS Depressant Rx":
    if Config."Can the implementing EHR support queries for past medications by date range?" then
      (
        "Get MedicationRequest Medication as Code"("Active Medication List")
      ) Rx
        where date from Rx.authoredOn 2 years or less on or before Today()
          and Rx.medication in "Benzodiazepine medications"
          or  Rx.medication in "CNS Depressant Medications"
    else
         List<FHIR.MedicationRequest>{}


Library NameNamesequence
OpioidCDSCommon Active Ambulatory Opioid Rx 3
define "Active Ambulatory Opioid Rx":
    if Config."Can the implementing EHR support queries for past medications by date range?" then
      (
        "Get MedicationRequest Medication as Code"("Get Active Ambulatory Medication Requests"([MedicationRequest]))
      ) Rx
        where date from Rx.authoredOn 2 years or less on or before Today()
          and Rx.medication in "Opioid analgesics with ambulatory misuse potential"
    else
        List<FHIR.MedicationRequest>{}


Library NameNamesequence
OpioidCDSCommonConfig Age Less than 18 Years Is Enabled 4
// CDC 2022 General Inclusion Criteria
define "Age Less than 18 Years Is Enabled":
  true


Library NameNamesequence
OpioidCDSRoutines Patient Age Less Than 18 5
define "Patient Age Less Than 18":
  if (Config."Age Less than 18 Years Is Enabled") then
    AgeInYearsAt(Today()) < 18
  else false


Library NameNamesequence
OpioidCDSCommonConfig Sickle Cell Check Enabled 6
// Sickle Cell
define "Sickle Cell Check Enabled":
  true


Library NameNamesequence
OpioidCDSCommonConfig Sickle Cell Assumed Active 7
define "Sickle Cell Assumed Active":
  true


Library NameNamesequence
OpioidCDSCommon US Core-Categorized Conditions 8
// 3. Medications indicating end of life
    /* or exists (
      "Medications Indicating End of Life"
    ) */

define "US Core-Categorized Conditions":
  [Condition: category in "Encounter Diagnosis Condition Category"]
    union [Condition: category in "Problem List Condition Category"]
    union [Condition: category in "US Core Health Concern Condition Category"]


Library NameNamesequence
OpioidCDSCommon Positive Sickle Cell Condition 9
define "Positive Sickle Cell Condition":
  if Config."Sickle Cell Check Enabled" and not Config."Sickle Cell Assumed Active"
    then (
      "US Core-Categorized Conditions" C
        where C.code in "Sickle Cell Diseases"
          and C.clinicalStatus in "Active Condition"
    ) else if Config."Sickle Cell Check Enabled" and Config."Sickle Cell Assumed Active"
        then (
          "US Core-Categorized Conditions" C
            where C.code in "Sickle Cell Diseases"
        )
      else null


Library NameNamesequence
OpioidCDSRoutines Condition Positive for Sickle Cell 10
define "Condition Positive for Sickle Cell":
  if (Config."Sickle Cell Check Enabled") then
    exists(
      Common."Positive Sickle Cell Condition"
    ) 
  else false


Library NameNamesequence
OpioidCDSCommonConfig Active Cancer Treatment Encounters Condition Is Enabled 11
// Active Cancer Treatment
define "Active Cancer Treatment Encounters Condition Is Enabled":
  true


Library NameNamesequence
OpioidCDSRoutines Encounter Period 12
// End of Opioid Naive Routine

/*
**  Routine #3
**  Active Cancer Treatment Routine
**
**  Definition                    | Answer to Proceed   | Details                                    | Data (Terminology) Requirement
**  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
**  Two office visits within the  | No                  | Look for a minimum of two distinct         | Office Visit
**  past 12 months                |                     | encounters within 12 months of the date    |
**                                |                     | of the current visit for which each of the |
**                                |                     | following is true:                         |
**                                |                     |   - the encounter diagnosis (primary or    |
**                                |                     |     secondary or co-morbidity diagnosis)   |
**                                |                     |     is listed in the CDC Malignant Cancer  |
**                                |                     |     Conditions value set                   |
**  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
**  Office visits with an         | No                  | The encounter is performed by an           | Oncology specialty
**  oncology specialist           |                     | oncologist as defined in the oncology      | designations (NUCC)
**  present                       |                     | specialty designations using the           |
**                                |                     | National Uniform Claim Committee           |
**                                |                     | (NUCC) classifications                     |
**  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
**  Office visits including CDC   | No                  | The encounter diagnosis (primary or        | CDC malignant cancer
**  malignant cancer              |                     | secondary or co-morbidity diagnosis)       | conditions
**  condition                     |                     | is listed in the CDC Malignant Cancer      |
**                                |                     | Conditions value set                       |
**  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
**
*/

define "Encounter Period":
  Interval[Today() - 12 months, Today())


Library NameNamesequence
OpioidCDSCommon USCore Encounter Cancer Diagnoses 13
define "USCore Encounter Cancer Diagnoses":
  [Condition: category in "Encounter Diagnosis Condition Category"] CancerDiagnoses
    where CancerDiagnoses.code in "CDC malignant cancer conditions"


Library NameNamesequence
OpioidCDSRoutines Encounters with Cancer Diagnosis During Encounter Period 14
// encounter-diagnosis, problem-list and health-concern Conditions
// define "US Core-Categorized Cancer Diagnoses":
//   Common."US Core-Categorized Conditions" C
//     where C.code in Common."CDC malignant cancer conditions"

// define "Encounters with Cancer Diagnosis During Encounter Period":
//   [Encounter] Encounter
//     with "US Core-Categorized Cancer Diagnoses" CancerDiagnosis
//     such that date from Encounter.period."start".value in day of "Encounter Period"
//       and EndsWith(CancerDiagnosis.encounter.reference, Encounter.id)

define "Encounters with Cancer Diagnosis During Encounter Period":
  [Encounter] Encounters
    where date from Encounters.period."start" in day of "Encounter Period"
      and exists (
        Common."USCore Encounter Cancer Diagnoses" CancerDiagnoses
          where EndsWith(CancerDiagnoses.encounter.reference, Encounters.id)
      )


Library NameNamesequence
OpioidCDSRoutines Number of Encounters with Cancer Diagnosis During Encounter Period 15
define "Number of Encounters with Cancer Diagnosis During Encounter Period":
  Count ("Encounters with Cancer Diagnosis During Encounter Period")


Library NameNamesequence
OpioidCDSRoutines Has Two or More Encounters with Cancer Diagnosis During Encounter Period 16
define "Has Two or More Encounters with Cancer Diagnosis During Encounter Period":
  "Number of Encounters with Cancer Diagnosis During Encounter Period" >= 2


Library NameNamesequence
OpioidCDSCommon USCore Problem List Cancer Diagnoses 17
define "USCore Problem List Cancer Diagnoses":
  [Condition: category in "Problem List Condition Category"] CancerDiagnoses
    where CancerDiagnoses.code in "CDC malignant cancer conditions"


Library NameNamesequence
OpioidCDSRoutines Has Active Cancer Diagnosis on Problem List 18
define "Has Active Cancer Diagnosis on Problem List":
  exists (
    Common."USCore Problem List Cancer Diagnoses" CancerDiagnoses
      where CancerDiagnoses.category in Common."Problem List Condition Category"
        and exists(
          CancerDiagnoses.clinicalStatus.coding ClinicalStatus
            where ClinicalStatus.code ~ 'active'
        )
  )


Library NameNamesequence
OpioidCDSRoutines Is Active Cancer Treatment? 19
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
OpioidCDSCommonConfig End-Stage Disease Criteria Enabled 20
// CDC 2022 General Inclusion Criteria
define "End-Stage Disease Criteria Enabled":
  true


Library NameNamesequence
OpioidCDSRoutines Conditions Likely Terminal for Opioid Prescribing 21
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 CDC 2022 Guideline General Inclusion Criteria 22
define "CDC 2022 Guideline General Inclusion Criteria":
  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
OpioidCDSREC11PatientView Inclusion Criteria 23
define "Inclusion Criteria":
  (
    exists (Common."Active Ambulatory Benzodiazepine or CNS Depressant Rx")
      and exists (Common."Active Ambulatory Opioid Rx")
  ) and Routines."CDC 2022 Guideline General Inclusion Criteria"


Library NameNamesequence
OpioidCDSCommon Conditions Indicating End of Life or With Limited Life Expectancy 24
define "Conditions Indicating End of Life or With Limited Life Expectancy":
  (
    "US Core-Categorized Conditions" C
      where C.code in "Conditions likely terminal for opioid prescribing"
        and C.clinicalStatus in "Active Condition"
  )
  union
  (
    "US Core-Categorized Conditions" C
      where C.code in "Limited life expectancy conditions"
        and C.clinicalStatus in "Active Condition"
  )


Library NameNamesequence
OpioidCDSCommonConfig Hospice Findings Exclusion Enabled 25
// OpioidCDSCommon
define "Hospice Findings Exclusion Enabled":
  false


Library NameNamesequence
OpioidCDSCommon Admitted/Referred/Discharged to Hospice Care 26
define "Admitted/Referred/Discharged to Hospice Care":
  (
    if (Config."Hospice Findings Exclusion Enabled") then
      [Observation: code in "Hospice Finding Codes"] O
        where not (O.status.value in { 'unknown', 'entered-in-error', 'cancelled' })
    else
      {}
  )
  union
  (
    [Encounter] E
      where date from E.period.start 1 year or less on or before Today()
        and (
          if E.hospitalization.dischargeDisposition.coding is null
              or not exists (E.hospitalization.dischargeDisposition.coding)
            then false
          else E.hospitalization.dischargeDisposition in "Hospice Disposition"
        )
        and E.status.value in { 'planned', 'arrived', 'in-progress', 'finished', 'onleave' }
  )


Library NameNamesequence
OpioidCDSCommon End of Life Assessment 27
define "End of Life Assessment":
    // 1. Conditions indicating end of life or with limited life expectancy
    exists (
      "Conditions Indicating End of Life or With Limited Life Expectancy"
    )
    // 2. Admitted/referred/discharged to hospice care
    or exists (
      "Admitted/Referred/Discharged to Hospice Care"
    )


Library NameNamesequence
OpioidCDSREC11PatientView Exclusion Criteria 28
define "Exclusion Criteria":
  Common."End of Life Assessment"


Library NameNamesequence
OpioidCDSREC11PatientView Is Recommendation Applicable? 29
define "Is Recommendation Applicable?":
  "Inclusion Criteria"
    and not "Exclusion Criteria"


Library NameNamesequence
OpioidCDSCommon Get MedicationRequest Medication as Code 30
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 ToString 31
define function ToString(value string): value.value


Library NameNamesequence
FHIRHelpers ToConcept 32
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
FHIRHelpers ToCode 33
define function ToCode(coding FHIR.Coding):
    if coding is null then
        null
    else
        System.Code {
          code: coding.code.value,
          system: coding.system.value,
          version: coding.version.value,
          display: coding.display.value
        }


Library NameNamesequence
FHIRHelpers ToDateTime 34
define function ToDateTime(value dateTime): value.value


Library NameNamesequence
OpioidCDSCommon Get Active Ambulatory Medication Requests 35
define function "Get Active Ambulatory Medication Requests" (value List<MedicationRequest>) returns List<MedicationRequest>:
  value Rx
    where Rx.status.value = 'active'
      and Rx.category in "Community"


Knowledge Capability: shareable computable executable publishable
Use Context:
codevaluedisplay
focus 182888003 Medication requested (situation)
focus 82423001 Chronic 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: Clinicians should use particular caution when prescribing opioid pain medication and benzodiazepines concurrently. In addition, clinicians should consider whether benefits outweigh risks for concurrent use of opioids with other central nervous system depressants.
Copyright:

© CDC 2016+.

Related Artifacts:

Documentation

Libraries:
Library - Recommendation #11 Patient View - Concurrent Use of Opioids and Benzodiazepines
Actions:
Use Particular Caution When Prescribing Opioid Pain Medication and Benzodiazepines or Other CNS Depressants Concurrently: Consider whether the benefits outweigh the risks of concurrently prescribing opioids and benzodiazepines, or other central nervous system depressant medications. When co-prescribing risks outweigh benefits, consult [Recommendation 11 of the 2022 CDC Clinical Practice Guideline](https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/71/rr/rr7103a1.htm#:~:text=evidence%20type%3A%203).-,Implementation%20Considerations,-Although%20in%20some) for further guidance. [For patients being treated for opioid use disorder who are also taking benzodiazepines or other medications that depress the central nervous system, the CDC recommends not withholding buprenorphine or methadone](https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/71/rr/rr7103a1.htm#:~:text=gabapentin%20and%20pregabalin).-,Buprenorphine%20or%20methadone%20for%20opioid%20use%20disorder%20should%20not%20be%20withheld%20from%20patients%20taking%20benzodiazepines%20or%20other%20medications%20that%20depress%20the%20central%20nervous%20system.,-Clinicians%20should%20check). If the decision is made to taper benzodiazepine medications, [the CDC recommends tapering benzodiazepines gradually prior to discontinuation](https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/71/rr/rr7103a1.htm#:~:text=Clinicians%20should%20taper%20benzodiazepines%20gradually%20before%20discontinuation%20because%20abrupt%20withdrawal%20can%20be%20associated%20with%20rebound%20anxiety%2C%20hallucinations%2C%20seizures%2C%20delirium%20tremens%2C%20and%2C%20rarely%2C%20death.%20The%20rate%20of%20tapering%20should%20be%20individualized).
When: Named Event: patient-view
If: Applicability: Check whether the patient is using opioids concurrently with benzodiazepines or other central nervous system depressants and if the 2022 CDC guideline general inclusion criteria is met. (Is Recommendation Applicable?)
Then:
: Document - Will modify prescription
Then:
: Snooze* - Benefits outweigh risks, snooze 3 months
Then:
: Snooze* - N/A see comments, snooze 3 months
Then: