Today’s issue of WorkCompRecap features the CDC’ announcement that it has released updated and expanded recommendations for clinicians providing pain care for adult outpatients with short- and long-term pain in its new Clinical Practice Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Pain, replacing guidelines released in 2016.
The new Clinical Practice Guideline addresses the areas of determining whether to initiate opioids for pain; selecting opioids and determining opioid dosages; deciding duration of initial opioid prescription and conducting follow-up; and assessing risk and addressing potential harms of opioid use. The new Guideline supports the primary prevention pillar of the HHS Overdose Prevention Strategy – supporting the development and promotion of evidence-based treatments to effectively manage pain.