Does Physicians Respond to the 2016 CDC Guideline Regarding Opioid Prescription?

Abstract

A growing literature has examined whether the 2016 CDC guideline in general has an effect on opioid-related outcomes. However, little is known about its impact on non-cancer chronic pain (NCCP) patients who are the main target of the guideline. In this paper we study the effect of the 2016 CDC guideline on prescribing opioid to NCCP patients. Using a difference-in-differences event study design, we find that the guideline in general does not significantly reduce the rate of prescribing opioid. In contrast, we find stronger effects after the guideline on reducing opioid prescription when either non-opioid pain medication or non-pharmacotherapy is given as recommended by the guideline. Our findings highlight that the guideline does have effects on opioid drug prescribing, but these effects differ substantially under different heterogeneity.