The Department of Justice on April 2 announced that California’s Controlled Substance Utilization Review and Evaluation System, also known as CURES 2.0, is ready for statewide use and that mandatory CURES consultation becomes effective Oct. 2, 2018. Beginning on this date, prescribers must check a patient’s prescription history in CURES 2.0 before prescribing a Schedule II-IV substance, with some exceptions. For dental care, one of these exceptions is:
. . . if a health care practitioner prescribes, orders, administers, furnishes, or dispenses a controlled substance to a patient as part of the patient's treatment for a surgical procedure, if the quantity of the controlled substance does not exceed a nonrefillable five-day supply of the controlled substance to be used in accordance with the directions for use . . .
The department “has adequate staff, user support, and education” to handle issues that arise with CURES use, the DOJ notice stated. Prescribers with CURES-related questions can email the DOJ or call 916.210.3187.
CDA will keep members informed about the effective date of this mandate along with current legislation that could further impact opioid prescribing requirements in California.