CURES Mandate Is In Effect; Are You Ready? October 4, 2018 California Medical Association, CMA 1163 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 Opioid Advocacy Update from CMA President (Sept. 25, 2018) CURES website: oag.ca.gov/cures Attorney General CURES FAQ: oag.ca.gov/cures/faqs Medical Board CURES webpage: mbc.ca.gov/cures CMA CURES webpage: cmadocs.org/cures CMA Safe Prescribing webpage: cmadocs.org/safe-prescribing