Controlled substances: CURES database.

Existing law classifies certain controlled substances into designated schedules. Existing law requires the Department of Justice to maintain the Controlled Substance Utilization Review and Evaluation System (CURES) for the electronic monitoring of the prescribing and dispensing of Schedule II, Schedule III, and Schedule IV controlled substances by a health care practitioner authorized to prescribe, order, administer, furnish, or dispense a Schedule II, Schedule III, or Schedule IV controlled substance. This bill would require the department, no later than July 1, 2020, to adopt regulations regarding the access and use of the information within CURES by consulting with stakeholders, and addressing certain processes, purposes, and conditions in the regulations. The bill would authorize the department, once final regulations have been issued, to enter into an agreement with any entity operating an interstate data sharing hub, or any agency operating a prescription drug monitoring program in another state, for purposes of interstate data sharing of prescription drug monitoring program information, as specified. The bill would require any agreement entered into by the department for those purposes to ensure that all access to data obtained from CURES and the handling of data contained within CURES comply with California law and meet the same patient privacy, audit, and data security standards employed and required for direct access to CURES. The bill would make conforming changes to related provisions concerning exceptions to the prohibition on a state agency from disclosing personal information. This bill would incorporate additional changes to Section 11165 of the Health and Safety Code proposed by AB 1753 to be operative only if this bill and AB 1753 are enacted and this bill is enacted last.