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 #3 - Opioid Immediate Release Form When Starting Opioid Therapy (Experimental)

Official URL: http://fhir.org/guides/cdc/opioid-cds/PlanDefinition/opioidcds-03 Version: 2022.1.0
Draft as of 2025-04-24 Computable Name: PlanDefinition_Recommendation_03_Order_Sign
Other Identifiers: cdc-opioid-guidance (use: official, )

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

Copyright/Legal: © CDC 2016+.

When starting opioid therapy for acute, subacute, or chronic pain, clinicians should prescribe immediate-release opioids instead of extended-release and long-acting (ER/LA) 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-03
Url: Recommendation #3 - Opioid Immediate Release Form When Starting Opioid Therapy
Version: 2022.1.0
Identifier:

value: cdc-opioid-guidance

Name: PlanDefinition_Recommendation_03_Order_Sign
Title: Recommendation #3 - Opioid Immediate Release Form When Starting Opioid Therapy
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 starting opioid therapy for acute, subacute, or chronic pain, clinicians should prescribe immediate-release opioids instead of extended-release and long-acting (ER/LA) opioids.
Logic Definitions:
Library NameNamesequence
OpioidCDSREC03 Chronic Pain Extended Release Opioid Analgesic with Ambulatory Misuse Potential Prescriptions 0
define "Chronic Pain Extended Release Opioid Analgesic with Ambulatory Misuse Potential Prescriptions":
  ( Common."Is Opioid Analgesic with Ambulatory Misuse Potential?"( ContextPrescriptions ) ) AmbulatoryOpioidPrescription
    where Routines."Is Subacute or Chronic Pain Prescription?"( AmbulatoryOpioidPrescription )
      and AmbulatoryOpioidPrescription.medication in Common."Extended release opioid with ambulatory misuse potential"


Library NameNamesequence
OpioidCDSREC03 Patient Is Being Prescribed Extended Release Opioid Analgesic with Ambulatory Misuse Potential 1
define "Patient Is Being Prescribed Extended Release Opioid Analgesic with Ambulatory Misuse Potential":
  exists( "Chronic Pain Extended Release 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
OpioidCDSRoutines Has Opioid RX with Ambulatory Abuse Potential In Past 90 Days 7
define "Has Opioid RX with Ambulatory Abuse Potential In Past 90 Days":
    if (Config."Opioid Naive Prescription Condition Is Enabled") then
      exists ("Opioid RX with Ambulatory Abuse Potential In Past 90 Days")
    else false


Library NameNamesequence
OpioidCDSRoutines Has Opioid Dispense with Ambulatory Abuse Potential In Past 90 Days 8
define "Has Opioid Dispense with Ambulatory Abuse Potential In Past 90 Days":
  if (Config."Opioid Naive Prescription Condition Is Enabled") then
    exists ("Opioid Dispense with Ambulatory Abuse Potential In Past 90 Days")
  else false


Library NameNamesequence
OpioidCDSRoutines Is Opioid Naive? 9
// NOTE: MedicationStatement-dependent logic comment out due to bug in Publisher not supporting MedicationStatement in AllTypes.
define "Is Opioid Naive?":
    not ("Has Opioid RX with Ambulatory Abuse Potential In Past 90 Days")
    /* and not ("Has Report of Opioid with Ambulatory Care Abuse Potential Reported in Past 90 Days") */
    and not ("Has Opioid Dispense with Ambulatory Abuse Potential In Past 90 Days")


Library NameNamesequence
OpioidCDSREC03 Inclusion Criteria 10
define "Inclusion Criteria":
  "Patient Is Being Prescribed Extended Release Opioid Analgesic with Ambulatory Misuse Potential"
      and Routines."Is Opioid Review Useful?"
      and Routines."Is Opioid Naive?"


Library NameNamesequence
OpioidCDSCommon US Core-Categorized Conditions 11
// 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 Conditions Indicating End of Life or With Limited Life Expectancy 12
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
OpioidCDSCommon Admitted/Referred/Discharged to Hospice Care 13
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 14
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
OpioidCDSREC03 Exclusion Criteria 15
define "Exclusion Criteria":
  Common."End of Life Assessment"


Library NameNamesequence
OpioidCDSREC03 Is Recommendation Applicable? 16
define "Is Recommendation Applicable?":
  "Inclusion Criteria"
    and not "Exclusion Criteria"


Library NameNamesequence
OpioidCDSCommon Is Opioid Analgesic with Ambulatory Misuse Potential? 17
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 18
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 19
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 Subacute or Chronic Pain Prescription? 20
// End of Active Cancer Treatment Routine

/*
**  Routine #4
**  For Subacute or Chronic Pain Routine
**
**  Definition                  | Answer to Proceed   | Details                                        | Data (Terminology) Requirement
**  -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
**  Order for opioid analgesic  | Yes                 | Order for opioid analgesics with ambulatory    | Opioid analgesics with
**  with expected supply        |                     | misuse potential with a supply duration of >=  | ambulatory misuse potential
**  duration >= 28 days         |                     | 28 days                                        |
**                              |                     |                                                |
**                              |                     | - Subacute definition = order for opioid       |
**                              |                     |   analgesics with ambulatory misuse            |
**                              |                     |   potential with a supply duration of one to   |
**                              |                     |   two months.                                  |
**                              |                     | - Chronic pain definition = order for opioid   |
**                              |                     |   analgesics with ambulatory misuse            |
**                              |                     |   potential with a supply duration of >= two   |
**                              |                     |   months.                                      |
**  -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
**
*/

define function "Is Subacute or Chronic Pain Prescription?"(prescription FHIR.MedicationRequest):
  "Is Subacute or Chronic Pain Using Expected Supply Duration"(prescription)
    or "Is Subacute or Chronic Pain Using Validity Period"(prescription)


Library NameNamesequence
OpioidCDSRoutines Is Subacute or Chronic Pain Using Expected Supply Duration 21
define function "Is Subacute or Chronic Pain Using Expected Supply Duration"(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 22
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 Is Subacute or Chronic Pain Using Validity Period 23
define function "Is Subacute or Chronic Pain Using Validity Period"(prescription FHIR.MedicationRequest):
  (
    prescription.dispenseRequest is not null
      and prescription.dispenseRequest.validityPeriod is not null
      and (
        days between prescription.dispenseRequest.validityPeriod.start and prescription.dispenseRequest.validityPeriod.end >= 28 
      )
  )


Library NameNamesequence
FHIRHelpers ToDateTime 24
define function ToDateTime(value dateTime): value.value


Knowledge Capability: shareable computable executable publishable
Use Context:
codevaluedisplay
focus 182888003 Medication requested (situation)
focus 82423001 Chronic pain (finding)
focus 274663001 Acute pain (finding)
focus
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 not treat acute pain with ER/LA opioids or initiate opioid treatment for subacute or chronic pain with extended-release and long-acting (ER/LA) opioids, and clinicians should not prescribe ER/LA opioids for intermittent or as-needed use.
Copyright:

© CDC 2016+.

Related Artifacts:

Documentation

Libraries:
Library - Recommendation #3 - Opioid Immediate Release Form When Starting Opioid Therapy
Actions:
When Initiating Opioid Therapy, Utilize Immediate Release Opioids: Recommend prescribing immediate release opioids instead of extended-release or long-acting opioids [For guidance regarding prescribing extended release/ long-acting opioids, see Recommendation 3 of the 2022 CDC Clinical Practice Guideline](https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/71/rr/rr7103a1.htm#Recommendation3).
When: Named Event: order-sign
If: Applicability: Check whether the current order is for an extended-release opioid with ambulatory misuse potential, the patient is opioid naive and if an opioid review is appropriate for the patient (Is Recommendation Applicable?)
Then:
: Document - Will prescribe immediate release opioid
Then:
: Snooze* - Benefits outweigh risks, snooze 3 months
Then:
: Snooze* N/A see comment, snooze 3 months
Then: