Client Alert: Mandatory Use of CURES

Mandatory Use of CURES Begins October 2, 2018

If you are a physician, NP, CNM, PA, podiatrist osteopathic surgeon, optometrist, neuropathic doctor, dentist, or any health care practitioner authorized to prescribe, order, administer or furnish a controlled substance, starting October 2, 2018, you are mandated to consult CURES (Controlled Substance Utilization Review and Evaluation System) prior to prescribing, ordering, administering, or furnishing a Schedule II-IV controlled substance. Please be aware, the investigators of the Medical Board of California, as well as other professional boards, can pull CURES reports of a particular practitioner to determine whether that practitioner is properly checking CURES. Failure to check CURES can be a basis for action against your license. Although many practitioners believe instructing their staff to check CURES is sufficient, remember that only the licensed practitioner has an access code and cannot lawfully rely upon staff to review the report. Instead, staff can print out the report and provide it to the prescribing practitioner for review. For best practices, a chart note or copy of the report should be placed in the patient’s file .To understand your obligations and whether any exemptions to consulting CURES apply,  please follow this link.

For questions regarding the Mandatory Use of CURES please contact:

Sara Hersh
310.203.2800
[email protected]