Effective October 2, 2018, physicians must consult California’s prescription drug monitoring database (the Controlled Substance Utilization Review and Evaluation System, or CURES) – prior to prescribing Schedule II, III or IV controlled substances.
To help physicians understand this new mandate, the California Medical Association (CMA) has prepared a document that answers the most commonly asked questions by physicians. The FAQ, “Frequently Asked Questions about the Duty to Consult the Controlled Substance Utilization Review and Evaluation System” is available free to members only at cmadocs.org/cures.
CMA also recently co-hosted a live CURES webinar with DOJ and the Medical Board of California regarding this new requirement. The webinar provides an overview of the new mandate and the requirements imposed by the law when checking CURES. It also includes an overview of the registration process and key features of the CURES database.
The webinar is available free for on-demand viewing.
For More Information
CMA's new mobile app lets you connect with your colleagues and engage with CMA content! Download the "CMADocs" app today from the Apple or Google Play app stores for daily news updates, events calendar, resource library and more.
April 18, 2024
CMA recently celebrated a milestone with its 50th Legislative Advocacy Day, held on April 10, 2024, in Sacramento.
April 17, 2024
CMA urges physicians to continue to share stories about the harms of prior authorization delays.
The U.S. Department of Education extended the deadline for borrowers to consolidate commercial FFEL or Perkins loans in...
Contact your legislator TODAY and consider sharing your personal experiences or stories about the importance of seeking...
April 16, 2024
The California Medical Association (CMA) and HealthTech 4 Medicaid (HT4M) are excited
April 15, 2024
CMA is hosting a free CME webinar that will look at the evolving landscape of AI within health care.
The California California Division of Workers’ Compensation recently published a notice that updates the Official Med...
On Feb. 21, 2024, Change Healthcare, a subsidiary of the UnitedHealth Group Optum unit, experienced a cyber-attack caus...
On April 1, 2024, Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan announced that new mailing addresses are now in effect ...
April 12, 2024
AMA has released informal survey findings showing the ongoing, devastating impact of the Change Healthcare cyberattac...
An invaluable resource unlike any other, the California Physician’s Legal Handbook (CPLH) is designed to equip health c...
Physicians for a Healthy California is now accepting nominations for its annual Health Equity Leadership Awards , whic...
The second annual Physicians for a Healthy California Health Equity Leadership Summit will take place July 11 -12, 2024...
HealthTech 4 Medicaid (HT4M) founder and executive director Adimika Arthur, MPH, recently appeared on the PopHealth Po...
The health care sector faces significant cybersecurity risks, exemplified by incidents like the Change Healthcare cyber...
April 11, 2024
A CMA sponsored bill that would institute guardrails on the use of AI in health care settings advanced out of the Senat...
The California Medical Association Political Action Committee (CALPAC) is now accepting nominations for its Board of ...
Add your voice now to help CMA explain why we must improve access for Medi-Cal beneficiaries in a sustainable manner....
April 09, 2024
Noridian, California’s Medicare contractor, will be holding a complimentary two-day virtual symposium on April 17-18, 2...
The average Californian lives to age 81, but the average Black Californian only lives to age 75. How can we dismantle t...
April 02, 2024
DHCS recently announced it is implementing claim utilization management edits for Reject Code 80 for beneficiaries 22 y...
The CMA Governance Reform Technical Advisory Committee (GTAC) is hosting a townhall-style meeting for all CMA members. ...
Physicians are encouraged to complete this survey on the Change Healthcare cyberattack by April 3.
On January 1, 2024, California became the first state to ban the use of the controversial “excited delirium” diagnosis....
With value-based care rising in popularity across the nation, more primary care practices, clinics and community health...
The CDC issued a health advisory to inform clinicians and public health officials of an increase in global and domestic...
March 31, 2024
Noridian has received several batches of paper claims that are unable to be processed due to critical errors with how t...
The shortage of Pfizer’s Bicillin L-A (benzathine penicillin G injectable suspension) an antibiotic for syphilis and ot...
March 28, 2024
CMA PSO has published two new trainings – Understanding the Encounter Data Pathway and Understanding Patient Registr...
March 27, 2024
CMA President Tanya W. Spirtos, M.D., issued the following statement on the abortion pill case currently being conside...
With ballots counted in the March 2024 Primary Election, CMA and its Political Action Committee, CALPAC, are reporting ...
March 25, 2024
DHCS today announced it would be requiring stronger password criteria for access to the Medi-Cal Rx Secured Provider ...
March 22, 2024
In 2023, Prime Therapeutics acquired Magellan Rx, necessitating the migration of Medi-Cal Rx applications to Prime Ther...
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently hosted a webinar briefing about the recent cyberattack ...
March 21, 2024
CMA President Tanya W. Spirtos, M.D., issued the following statement regarding the passage of Proposition 1, which wil...
March 20, 2024
HHS has announced a new voluntary model that empowers primary care providers in eligible ACOs to treat people with Medi...
The Optum Temporary Funding Assistance Program provides no-cost loans to help bridge the gap in short-term cash flow ne...
March 19, 2024
Beginning August 1, 2024, all California dispensers of controlled substances will be required to report to the Controll...
CMS has updated its website to reflect the new Medicare Physician Payment Schedule conversion factor. This is a resul...
March 18, 2024
HHS is hosting a briefing on Tuesday, March 19, at 1 p.m. PDT , regarding the recent cyberattack on Change Healthcare....
Coupled with medical inflation, that means physicians will experience a devastating 6% real cut in 2024. Adjusted for i...
March 15, 2024
In response to the Change Healthcare cyberattack, the CMS today announced it is reopening the MIPS Extreme and Uncontr...
March 14, 2024
The New York Times published an opinion video today that clearly demonstrates how insurance companies use prior authori...
OCCHE recently launched what it is calling a “catalytic program” to help health care providers and industry stakeholder...
March 13, 2024
CMS has fixed the issue that was causing some telehealth services to be underpaid. According to Noridian, the system lo...
U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra and U.S. Department of Labor Acting Secretary Julie A. Su, have...
March 12, 2024
Due to ongoing concerns with the impact the Change Healthcare cybersecurity attack is having on physician practices, CM...